Taxes rates increase this year; notices have gone out

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
Tax notices have gone out and rates will go up for the majority of ratepayers in the Town of Claresholm, with about a one percent increase in property taxes as well as increases to the education and lodge requisition which are not controlled by town council.
At its May 9 meeting, town council
approved the final two readings of its property tax rate bylaw.
First reading of the property tax rate bylaw was given at the April 25 meeting.
Abe Tinney, the town’s chief administrative officer, said municipal tax revenue is set to increase by two per cent.
For non-residential properties, there will be a 4.92 percent increase with 0.88 percent of that being property tax and the remainder education and lodge requisitions.
For residential properties, there will be a 2.44 percent increase with 1.09 percent of that being property tax and the remainder education and lodge requisitions.
The town is required to collect education tax on behalf of the provincial government and revenue on behalf of the seniors’ lodge who set those two rates.
On April 25, the tax rates were not all set.
The town annexed property from the Municipal District of Willow Creek in 2017. Part of the annexation agreement is those lands will be taxed at the M.D. rates for the next 25 years or until the land is developed.
The town also annexed land in January of 2021 with a similar agreement those lands will be taxed at M.D. rates the next 10 years.
Tinney said the M.D. has now passed its mill-rate bylaw, and it will slightly affect the town’s tax rates, because of slight adjustments to the school and lodge requisitions.
Those increases will be 0.024 per cent for residential and 0.204 for non-residential.
Council then approved the final two readings of the property tax rate bylaw with all of council in favour except Couns. Kieth Carlson and Brad Schlossberger who were opposed.