The Town of Olds has written a letter to Seniors and Housing Minister Lori Sigurdson urging the province to reinstate the Grants in Place of Taxes for Social Housing program.
The program once had the province provide funding equal to the amount it would have paid in property taxes to municipalities. It was cut by the Progressive Conservative government in 2015 but the NDP has not reinstated it, to the town's dismay.
"This downloading of costs on municipalities is not appropriate. These properties receive municipal services like every other property in the Town of Olds, and as the key property owner, the Government of Alberta should be responsible for paying the same taxes that all other property owners pay, in order for this essential infrastructure service to be provided," the letter reads.
It also states that the tax impact has been a 0.5 per cent increase to cover the $46,250 cost.
Council approved the Loonies for Lappage initiative to match community donations up to $5,000 for the Olds wrestler who's headed to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The town is inviting residents to donate loonies at the town office and to sign a Town of Olds flag.
