CARSTAIRS-DIDSBURY - Proposed new provincial legislation would allow local municipalities to offer businesses tax breaks for up to 15 years.
The Municipal Government Property Tax Incentives Amendment Act (Bill 7) was tabled on June 4 in the legislature.
Bill 7 would give municipalities new powers to pass bylaws to provide tax exemptions, reductions and deferrals.
Lance Colby, mayor of Carstairs, told the Gazette the municipalities have already had similar legislation in place for years and it won't make much difference for them.
"It really doesn't affect us," said Colby. "We can do that anyway. I don't know the whole legislation but just to allow us to not collect taxes off it for a certain number of weeks -- we can do that now anyway. We can say you're tax free for a number of years. So it's not a big deal as I see."
Colby said the town hasn't offered any tax relief since he began as mayor in 2003.
Didsbury mayor Rhonda Hunter told the Gazette that council would explore all opportunities and potential side effects of Bill 7.
"The decision that is made must serve the best interest of Didsbury's future," said Hunter. "Municipalities across Alberta already struggle financially to keep up with expectations and demands of maintenance, repairs and improvements of roads, streets, infrastructure and amenities.
"It's significant that the provincial government has municipal well-being on their agenda; having said that, our well-being is dependent on much more than having the ability to offer tax exemptions."
