Council carried a motion last week to approve a three per cent increase to the residential and commercial mill rates.
The decision followed up on the previous April 9 meeting’s approval of the 2018 operational budget, “which generated a $36 surplus,” said finance manager Chris Albert during the April 16 meeting.
Some general highlights include approximately $11.1 million in expenditures, $7.9 million in other revenue coming from user fees, grants, as well as other government transfers, plus an additional $3.2 million in tax levies, said Albert.
“There were also additional outside requirements of $1.1 million,” to cover the new designated industrial requirements as well as the provincial school fee and the Mountain View Seniors' Housing requisitions, he said. Total assessments for 2018 are $364.8 million, he added.
“In regards to annexed properties, just in case some of council may not be aware, we are required by our agreement with Mountain View County that we use the lower rate between the county’s rate or the town’s rate.”
This year, all of Mountain View County’s rates were lower than the Town of Sundre’s, he said, later adding that administration was recommending that council approve all three readings of the tax bylaw.
Coun. Todd Dalke moved first reading, which carried unanimously. Coun. Cheri Funke then moved the second reading, followed by a brief discussion.
Coun. Paul Isaac wanted to know the year that the condition on annexed land would end, and whether the municipality would at that time inform landowners about the change.
“The agreement comes to an end in 2020,” said Albert.
“As a matter of good practice and for fairness to the citizens involved, I would say we would likely send a letter out the prior year just to give them at least that much notification,” added Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer.
Funke’s motion carried and she tabled another to present the tax bylaw for third reading, which carried unanimously with a reluctant mayor.
Although Terry Leslie was not in favour of the tax increase, he expressed a desire to not hold up the process any longer and agreed to vote in favour of introducing the bylaw’s third reading, which needed unanimous support to move forward. He still voted against the third and final reading, which carried without his support.
The three per cent increase approved by council as recommended by administration represents a new mill rate of 8.203 for the 2018 tax year and 12.105 for commercial.
For a residential property valued at $350,000 it adds a monthly increase of nearly $7 to the property tax bill. The effect on a commercial property valued at the same amount will be an increase of a little more than $10.
The full bylaw is available on the Town of Sundre's website by accessing the April 16, 2018 package, which can be found in the "council meeting agendas and minutes" section under the "government" tab.
