Penhold is one step closer to automating its tax certificate process with a recommendation going to administration on investigating available options.
During the Sept. 22 Town of Penhold council meeting, a recommendation was put forward to approve Access Point Information Canada (APIC) as Penhold's official online tax certificate provider.
“We receive between 20 and 30 frenzied phone calls a week from real estate agents, lawyers and sometimes homeowners asking for tax certificates from the town,” said Rick Binnendyk, the town's chief administrative officer. “This is one way we can help reduce the workload on our staff and automate the process so they will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The tax certificate service is needed by professionals to prove taxes are paid before closing real estate transactions.
Binnendyk noted the manpower required by town staff to accommodate certificate requests does add up and takes time away from other tasks and that each request is almost identical.
Administration recommended APIC as its preferred service provider as its technology meshes with the system the town presently uses.
Coun. Mike Yargeau expressed his concern over the use of a third party to perform a task that town employees are being paid to do. He noted his research has revealed there are other options besides APIC.
“A local real estate professional has offered to help us (the Town of Penhold) with the tax certificates,” said Yargeau.
Coun. Sharolyn Sanchez questioned the length of the potential contract with APIC, asking how long the town would be obligated to use APIC.
“I like the online aspect,” said Coun. Mike Walsh. “I wish we could have more services available over the Internet. I say, let's sign up.”
The additional cost of using APIC would be $10.50 per online request for a total of $35.50 for online certificates and $40 for hard copies.
Mayor Dennis Cooper added that while APIC was a “time saver for existing employees,” and given the number of questions generated by councillors during the meeting, their options were to either pass the motion or to send the matter to admin for further investigation.
Council voted to send the matter back to administration to ensure a suitable service was chosen and contracted for the services.
