BOWDEN ñ Town councillors wrestled with a tough question as they debated this year's tax rate bylaw.
Should they keep the increase at zero per cent and risk having to raise taxes by a large amount later as expenses rise? Or should they raise taxes a bit each year so taxpayers aren't faced with a big bill that might be much harder to pay?
In the end, council opted for the former. They passed a bylaw keeping overall tax increase at zero per cent (although town staff concede some property owners will see their taxes increase, due to changes in assessments).
Coun. Paul Webb raised the question during a special meeting held May 15 in council chambers to set the budget and tax rates.
ìIn general discussion terms, we're proposing in this document a zero tax increase. Are we just pushing forward future tax increases by doing this,î he asked.
ìProbably,î Mayor Robb Stuart answered.
ìSo, should we be contemplating an increase, a marginal increase twice instead of a big increase once?î Webb asked.
Stuart said in essence, up until the special meeting, town officials had indicated there would be no tax increase.
Besides, he said, if council really wanted to get after the cost increase villain, it should increase utility rates, because those costs have risen significantly.
Overall, Coun. Sandy Gamble seemed to support Webb's suggestion.
ìThings go up all the time and sometimes a huge increase after several years makes it hard for people. But a little one isn't quite as bad; I don't know,î she said.
Jacqui Molyneux, who looks after the books for the town, said she checked out her taxes and determined that when municipal and school taxes are combined, her total tax bill will rise by about $25.
ìWhich is not a lot,î Gamble said. ìI mean, $25 when everything else has gone up on your taxes for a whole year for what we get. I mean, the guys do a pretty darn good job, really.î
ìA very good job,î Coun. Wayne Milaney said.
In the end, council ratified the proposed zero per cent tax increase.
Property owners have until June 30 to pay their taxes without penalty. On July 1, a 15 per cent penalty will be applied on current unpaid taxes.
A further 15 per cent penalty will be applied to all unpaid taxes after Dec. 31 this year, and in each year they remain unpaid.
"Should we be contemplating an increase, a marginal increase twice instead of a big increase once?" BOWDEN COUNCILLOR PAUL WEBB
