Town to start paying portion of policing costs

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer

The Town of Claresholm will pay a portion of policing starting in 2020 at a rate of just over $73,000, with that amount increasing over the next four years until it reaches more than $220,000 per year. At its Dec. 9 meeting, council reviewed a news release from the provincial government and correspondence from the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association saying that $286 million will be injected into frontline law enforcement for additional RCMP officer and civilian positions over five years. Marian Carlson, the town’s chief administrative officer, said the smaller communities will start paying to bring them in line with larger municipalities. However, she said she was under the impression, based on information received, the town would not have to start paying for policing until 2021. That has been moved up to start in 2020.

The impact to the Town of Claresholm, based on a percentage of the total cost is:

• Year 1, 10 per cent or $73,730;
• Year 2, 15 per cent, $110,674;
• Year 3, 20 per cent, $147,460;
• Year 4, 30 per cent, $221,349;
• Year 5, 30 per cent, $221,349.

“This will be a significant impact on our municipal taxes,” Carlson said. “We did know this was coming, but not so quickly.” “It’s going to be a direct hit on the property tax,” said Mayor Doug MacPherson, and on the business tax. He later asked if the town could put it on the tax bill as a requisition, similar to education and lodge funding, to illustrated this is not something the town implemented but the province did. Carlson responded the town needs clarification on that. MacPherson also pointed out this could mean a two to three per cent increase in taxes, and he wanted public education on the fact the province implemented this not the town. (Please see related story on page two)

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