Mountain View County councillors have approved the 2014 tax rate, with all assessment classes showing a one per cent overall tax increase.
The vote on second and final readings came during the regularly scheduled council meeting on April 23.
The 2014 residential tax rate will be 2.68, farmland will be 7.70, commercial/industrial will be 9.68, machinery and equipment will be 9.68, and linear will be 9.68.
On the education side, residential/farmland will be 2.49, and non-residential will be 3.47. Mountain View Senior's Housing will be 0.15 and Mountain View Regional Waste will be 0.04.
Reeve Bruce Beattie said the one per cent increase, while below the two per cent inflation rate in Alberta, is fair.
“I think it's a reasonable increase,” said Beattie. “We want to make sure that we don't have big jumps (in future tax rates) later on so let's do it on a gradual basis and try to be reasonable in terms of tax increases.”
The one per cent increase will generate just over $400,000 for the municipality. Of that money, $300,000 will be directed to the county's bridge reserve.
The county will spend more than $500,000 on bridge repair and upkeep in 2014, said Reeve Beattie, noting there are more than 250 bridges in the county.
Greg Wiens, director of corporate services, says the one per cent increase means “that for the most part (ratepayers) will see a slight increase in their overall tax bill. So for somebody with a $2,000 tax bill they will see a $20 increase.”
Estimated municipal expenditures, excluding non-cash items and requisitions, outlined in the 2014 budget total $23,760,300.
General municipal taxation will raise $16,531,150, with $7,229,150 raised through transfers and revenues.
Councillors had been scheduled to review the county's 2013 audited financial statements on April 23 but that was deferred until next month.
"I think it's a reasonable increase."Bruce BeattieMVC Reeve
