MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has approved property tax cancellation for seven landowners impacted by the Canada Day tornado north of Carstairs.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
A tornado tore through a large tract of Mountain View County on July 1, destroying or severely damaging many farm houses, farm equipment, barns, outbuildings, vehicles and other property.
The cancellation represents 50 per cent of the combined municipal and policing property tax requisitions for each of the seven impacted landowners.
County chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes says the plan will see $6,335.83 – 50 per cent of the total owed of 12,671,67 – for the municipal portion of property taxes cancelled.
Municipal property taxes consist of the following components: municipal taxes and provincial policing costs; ASFF (school tax paid to the province), and other requisitions such as seniors housing and designated industrial properties.”
During the recent council meeting, council also carried a motion calling for Mountain View County to send a letter to the government of Alberta requesting it reduce the ASFF requisition requirement for the landowners in the total amount of $5,050.
“If we have additional properties that come through later then we will just make an additional request,” said reeve Angela Aalbers.
Council’s decision on tax refunds must be in alignment with the Municipal Government Act, Holmes noted.
“For future years, 2024 and beyond, the annual property assessment and taxation process will capture any changes in property values caused by the tornado,” he said.
