M.D. of Taber council passes 2015 tax rates

By J.W. Schnarr
Vauxhall Advance
jwschnarr@tabertimes.com

The Municipal District of Taber council has passed their 2015 tax rates with no increases to residential or commercial mill rates over last year.
Council unanimously passed the bylaw, which sets the tax rate, during their regular meeting on April 28.

“The mill rates on commercial and residential properties stay the same, and there’s a small increase in farmland property,” said Director of Corporate Services Bryan Badura.

This year, the M.D. requires $20,848,179.26, including:
Municipal expenses, $15,390,908.85.

Alberta School Foundation Funding (ASFF)
residential and farmland, $1,605,402.87;
non-residential, $3,557,875,70.

Holy Spirit Catholic School Division (opted out)
Residential and farmland, $119,028.61;
non-residential, $8,087.40.

Housing board requisition, $166,875.83.

The 2015 tax rates on the dollar for the M.D.’s general expenses are:
Farmland properties, 7.0080;
linear properties, 8.0084;
machinery and equipment, 8.0084;
non-residential properties, 8.0084;
residential properties, 3.4039.

The 2015 tax rates on the dollar to meet the requisition for ASFF:
Residential and farmland properties, 2.4694;
non-residential properties properties, 3.3551.

The 2015 tax rates on the dollar to meet the requisition for Holy Spirit Catholic School Division:
Residential and farmland properties, 2.4694;
non-residential properties, 3.3551.

The 2015 tax rates on the dollar to meet the requisition for Taber and District Housing Board are:
Farmland properties, .00743;
linear properties, .0743;
machinery and equipment, .0743;
non-residential properties, .0743;
residential properties, .0743.

During discussion, Acting Reeve Dwight Tolton asked council if they wished to consider holding off on passing the tax rate bylaw until after the annual general meeting, which was planned for later in the evening.

“We were elected to do it now,” replied Division 4 Coun. Ben Elfring. “We’ve never done it (like that) before.”

Municipal Administrator Derrick Krizsan said the only things that could be subject to change would be if council decided to amend their mill rate or if they incurred additional expenses that would require administration to go back and adjust their numbers.

The bylaw passed unanimous consent without further issue.

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