Mountain View County council has approved a one per cent tax increase in all categories for 2019-2020.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The new residential tax rate is 2.90, with a tax levy of $6,732,408 on an assessment of $2,321,520,140. Last year the rate was 2.87.
The farmland tax rate is 8.27, with total tax levy of $1,310,170 on an assessment of $158,424,450.
By way of example, the tax bill on a residence assessed at $500,000 can be calculated by dividing 500,000 by 1,000 and multiplying the total by the 2.90 rate.
The 2019-2020 budget was also approved on April 10. It calls for municipal expenditures, excluding non-cash items and requisitions, of $24,797,477.
Reeve Bruce Beattie called the tax rate increase prudent and fair.
“I think we have consistently stayed in that one or two per cent range for municipal taxation,” said Beattie. “It is a fair budget. I think it takes into account inflation. There are increases around our cost of living for our employees and equipment.
“The impact on our average taxpayer in many cases will be slight lowering on their taxes because of aging facilities and assessments may go down and that’s reflected in that tax level. The average person will not see a significant increase on their tax bill this year.”
The rate will also allow the municipality to maintain adequate reserves, he said.
“We have healthy reserves for all our long-range plans,” he said. “We have long-range plans for infrastructure and roads, as well as having a long-range capital plan, both for fire and for our operations department.
“Unless something really out of the ordinary happens, I think we will be able to continue with the same kind of one or two per cent tax increase for the foreseeable future.”
Deputy Reeve Angela Aalbers said the budget is a good one.
“I think it is good governance and a good way to do things,” said Aalbers.
“This is a good budget, I think,” said Coun. Duncan Milne.
The total amount to be raised by general municipal taxation is $29,769,933 and total taxation is $43,374,780.
The estimated amount required for current year capital expenditures is $20,842,300, and the estimated municipal revenues and transfers from all sources other than taxation is estimated at $10,950,304.
The estimated amount required for current year expenditures to be funded by municipal reserves is $16,297,200, and the estimated amount to be placed in reserves is $11,195,660.
The DIP (designated industrial property) farmland tax rate is 8.27, with a tax levy of $1,408 on an assessment of $170,220.
The M&E tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $101,745 on an assessment of $9,878,290, and the DIP M&E tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $4,943,279 on an assessment of $479,930,040.
The non-residential tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $2,112,429 on an assessment of $205,090,040, and the DIP non-residential tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $1,121,717 on an assessment of $108,904,540.
The non-residential co-generation tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $313,184, on an assessment of $30,406,180, and the non-residential linear tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $12,958,399, on an assessment of $1,258,096,950.
The non-residential railway tax rate is 10.30, with a tax levy of $139,437, on an assessment of $13,537,550, and the DIP residential rate is 2.90, with a tax levy of $830 on an assessment of $286,230.
The Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF) residential and farmland tax rate is 2.54, with a tax levy of $6,223,906 on an assessment of $2,450,356,542, and the non-residential rate is 3.79, with a tax levy of $5,987,202 on an assessment of $1,579,736,764.
The Mountain View Seniors' Housing tax rate is 0.25, with a tax levy of $1,146,561 on an assessment of $4,586,244,750.
The designated industrial property tax rate is 0.0785, with a tax levy of $148,532 on an assessment of $1,891,331,720.
In a briefing note to council, administration said, “The average impact on existing residential rolls is $4.66 for the municipal portion of the mill rate and the total impact is $6.55.”
The complete tax rate bylaw and the 2019 budget can be found on the county’s website.
