DIDSBURY - At the regular council meeting on April 25, council passed the tax rate bylaw (bylaw 2017-05) with no increase in all assessment classes.
This is the third year in a row that Didsbury has seen no increase in the tax rate. In 2015 there was zero per cent increase as well, while last year there was a 2.5 per cent decrease.
Administration noted that the 2017 educational property tax requisition is $1,510,442, an increase of $68,708 or 4.77 per cent from the 2016 requisition.
The municipal expenses and transfers for 2017 for the Town of Didsbury total $12,463,562. Of that $7,660,651 is from municipal revenues and transfers from all sources other than taxation. The balance of $4,802,881 is to be raised by general municipal taxation.
The requisitions are for Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF): residential/farm land $1,270,664, non-residential $239,814; Mountain View Seniors' Housing $85,318; and municipal operations and debt charges $4,802,881.
The total town assessment (assessed value of all property) for Didsbury for 2017 comes to $572,372,270 with $497,693,340 for residential and farm land; residential land vacant $6,738,490; non-residential $59,990,410; non-residential vacant $1,147,520; linear $6,625,320; and machinery and equipment $177,190.
The tax rate for the 2017 tax levy (excluding annexation) for residential/farm land is 8.30 for a total tax levy of $4,020,982.
The tax rate for residential land vacant is 15.00 for $101,077.
The non-residential tax rate is 9.10 and the tax levy comes to $542,564.
The non-residential vacant tax rate is 29.00 for $33,278.
The linear tax rate is 9.10 for $60,290.
The machinery and equipment tax rate is 9.10 for $1,612.
The tax levy for Mountain View Seniors' Housing is .1491 for $83,312 from the total assessment of $558,766,570.
The ASFF is 2.519 for residential/farm land for a tax levy of $1,237,318. The ASFF for non-residential is 3.539 for $238,512.
The 2017 tax rate (for annexation only) is 2.84 for residential for a tax levy of $36,441.
The tax rate is 8.09 for farm land for a tax levy of $3,287.
The tax rate for non-residential is 9.10 for $3,349.
Mountain View Seniors' Housing tax rate is .1491 for $2,029.
The ASFF for residential/farm land is 2.519 for a tax levy of $33,346.
The ASFF for non-residential is 3.539 for a tax levy of $1,302.
Administration in their report to council stated that the assessment values for Didsbury are very flat for 2017.
"There was no increase in market value for any assessment class; with some classes decreasing a bit (industrial land had a slight decrease in value). The largest difference that was noted is that linear assessment decreased by $2,037,770 for 2017," the report said.
Mayor Rick Mousseau told the Gazette that council was glad to see no increase in the tax rate.
"Administration worked pretty hard to see it stay at zero," said Mousseau. "That way it's not such a burden on the taxpayers. The assessment is where it changes. If the assessment goes up, everything goes up."
In other council news, a delegation from Highland Primary Care Network (PCN) talked to council about their role in health care in the region.
Speaking to council were Micheline Nimmock, executive director; Cory Leyte, communications specialist; and local physician Diane Smith.
Nimmock said that Highland PCN is a group of family doctors, health team members and Alberta Health Services providing primary care to five core communities (Airdrie, Didsbury, Carstairs, Crossfield, Beiseker, Irricana and Cremona).
Leyte spoke about the Get Out Get Active six-week activity challenge to encourage people to be more active.
Nimmock told the Gazette that the area has good coverage for doctors with nine family doctors between Didsbury, Carstairs and Cremona accepting patients.
"To find a family doctor accepting patients visit hpcn.ca or calgaryareadoctors.com for the most up-to-date list," said Nimmock.
In addition, patients are able to have access to other health team members and specialists outside of their family doctor's office, said Nimmock.
Nimmock said they do realize travel issues can arise.
"We recognize that many Albertans may have transportation issues," she said. "While we are not able to provide transportation for patients, we do try to provide as many services as we can in the family doctors' offices which are normally close to home. Some of our services are centrally located in Airdrie and Didsbury and while that is not ideal for everyone, it may help minimize travel to even farther places like Red Deer or Calgary."
Mousseau said he's glad to see local doctors involved in the program.
"They do some great things around the region," he said.
Mousseau said he thinks health care in the area is very good but would like to see shorter wait times.
Derek Sutherland, manager of protective services for the town, announced his resignation at the meeting. Sutherland will be taking a position with the North Okanagan Regional District in Salmon Arm, B.C.
The mayor and council thanked Sutherland for his 10 years of service to the town.
Sutherland will be stepping down on June 1. He thanked council for the opportunity.
Council passed final reading of bylaw 2017-02 ATCO Gas Franchise agreement, which sees the town renewing an agreement with ATCO to continue to deliver natural gas to customers within the municipality.
Council passed first reading of bylaw 2017-06, the land use redesignation of 19.06 acres on 23rd Street in Didsbury from I1 - Light Industrial to DC - Direct Control.
On approval of the redesignation the owner plans to apply for subdivision of the lot into three lots and to sell two of the newly created lots.
"The subdivision process comes after the redesignation process," said Christofer Atchison, manager of legislative and development services. "The land use redesignation is being undertaken to ensure that the parcel of land is appropriately zoned for current and future development. The parcel of land is for industrial purposes."
There will be a public hearing on May 23 at 6 p.m. in council chambers regarding the redesignation.
Council approved a request from the Didsbury Car Club to close several downtown streets during the Show and Shine on May 12 from 6 p.m. to May 13 at 6 p.m.
Council amended the 2017 amended operational budget. The operational budget was originally approved on Dec. 13, 2016. Since that time, council has directed administration to make some changes to the budget. The changes see an overall decrease in the total budget of $10,907.
There were several notices of motion carried including directing staff to bring back a report outlining the potential of the Town of Didsbury taking advantage of the solar energy program and directing staff to review the guidance on open air burning and return to council with a recommendation.
"Administration worked pretty hard to see it stay at zero. That way it's not such a burden on the taxpayers."Mayor Rick Mousseau
