CREMONA – At the regular council meeting in Cremona on Nov. 15, council approved final reading of the tax penalty bylaw (470-16), which brings forward a new bylaw with penalties for outstanding taxes.
The tax penalty and tax instalment payment plan is set with penalties of eight per cent on current taxes after June 30 and 12 per cent on outstanding balance as of Dec. 3.
Council also approved an amendment to the utility policy so it will read the same as the water-wastewater bylaw.
“If their utilities remain unpaid for more than 60 days following the date of billing, the village has the right to enforce payment by transfer of unpaid amount to their property taxes or to disconnect the water supply to the property,” said CAO Luana Smith.
Council approved the closure of the village office during the Christmas season. The office will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and 27 and Jan. 1 and 2.
In other council news, council approved the use of a company called TAXervice for tax recovery requirements for the village.
“Currently, we do our own tax recovery which can be very time consuming, plus you're dealing with people that aren't happy because they haven't paid their taxes in three years, so we have to go through tax recovery through the municipal government,” said Smith. “So it's quite time consuming.”
Smith said using the service would not cost the village anything.
“They'll charge $495 to the individuals who are under tax recovery,” she said. “They work with the individual. They'll make tax agreements. The people can go on payment plans.”
Tax recovery is used once a homeowner goes into arrears for at least three years.
Council received a letter from Earl Dreeshen, MP for Red Deer-Mountain View, regarding electoral reform.
“The letter said that Canadians should have a right to have a referendum and vote yes or no when it comes to changing the federal election voting system,” said Smith. “They're trying to push it through without giving Canadians a say in how they want the boundaries to be.”
Council voted to send a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and the special committee on election reform stating that Canadians should have the right to vote on changes to the election process.
