MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has approved the 2023 tax rate bylaw, which sets a residential mill rate of 2.8103, down slightly from 2022’s rate of 2.9478.
The move came by way of motion on third reading at the April 12 council meeting, held in person and online with all councillors present.
The 2023 non-residential mill rate is 10.0054, compared with 10.497 in 2022, and the farmland rate of 8.3178, is the same rate as in 2022.
Reeve Angela Aalbers said, “I think it is important for our residents to realize how much time and effort administration puts in to make sure that we are as efficient as we can be with our dollars.
“When you look at our ability to hold our tax rate this year comparatively to increased cost of inflation, fuel costs, carbon taxes, our residents also have to be aware that the municipality is incurring all of those increases as well.
“Kudos to our administration for working so hard to be as efficient as you can be with the tax dollars.”
Coun. Peggy Johnson said, “I did have a phone call, a nice conversation with a resident who is asking us as much as possible that we would hold the line on taxes going forward.
“Certainly with increase in utility rates and inflation and all of the things that are going on, and the uncertainty that farmers face, they just ask that we hold the line. I think that this tax (bylaw) pretty much does hold the line and I think our residents will appreciate that.”
Coun. Greg Harris said, “I certainly hear what councillor Johnson is saying, but I am disappointed that we are not using this opportunity in market growth to help our businesses. We are higher than most of our competing municipalities around us and I think the overall health of the business community is important.
“Having said that, I’m willing to support this tax rate hoping that in the future we can do better for our businesses.”
A tax bill can be calculated by dividing the assessment by 1,000 and then multiplying the result by the mill rate.
The total amount to be raised by general municipal taxation is $31,741,966, including $1,045,000 to cover the cost of policing from the province, and total taxation is $46,872,684.
The 2023 requisitions total $15,130,718, including $12,977,853 for the Alberta School Foundation Fund and $2,006,020 for Mountain View Seniors' Housing.
The assessed value of all property in Mountain View County as shown on the assessment roll is $5,225,371,890, including $158,196,270 on farmland and $2,817,303,010 on residential.
The assessment on all property in the county in 2022 was $4,834,372,850.
