Some residents might pay a slightly smaller amount depending on the assessed values of their properties.
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Property taxes in 2024 for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will see slight increases when notices go out. The new rates keep the municipality’s property taxes among the lowest in Alberta.
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Some residents might pay a slightly smaller amount depending on the assessed values of their properties. Council approved the new rates at their Tuesday meeting. They include:
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- Urban residential tax rate increases by 1 per cent to 0.0023152 from 0.0022923.
- Rural residential tax rate increases by 6.95 per cent to 0.0015663 from 0.0014645.
- Urban non-residential tax rate increases by 2.1 per cent to 0.0045448 from 0.0044513.
- Rural non-residential tax rate increases by 6.95 per cent to 0.0097202 from 0.0090882.
- The tax rate for the class called “other residential” increases by 0.05 per cent to 0.0062212 from 0.0062181.
- Residential education tax rate increased by 4 per cent and decreased by 0.11 per cent for the non-residential class. For 2024, this represents 51 per cent of property tax bills for urban residents and 62 per cent for rural residential property owners.
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The municipality expects to collect more than $460 million in municipal property taxes this year. This matches what was collected in 2023. Approximately $70 million in education taxes will be collected on behalf of the province.
Laurie Farquharson, the RMWB’s chief financial officer, warned council that annual revenues have dropped by roughly $306 million since 2016. The RMWB’s finances peaked when council passed a $1-billion budget for 2013, while the 2024 budget is $611.4 million.
The end of the last oilsands boom slowed revenue, but much of this loss is because of changes to the taxes paid by oilsands operators. The Alberta government told municipalities in 2016 to lower the difference between the highest rural non-residential tax class, which includes oilsands operations, and the lowest residential taxes to a 5-to-1 ratio. The RMWB’s rate is at 6.21-to-1 and still dropping.
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Only two speakers spoke to council and were concerned with how they believed municipal taxes were being spent.
Resident Kevin Peters wanted council to answer questions about the $935,000 sale of the former A&W building to SMG Builders to build a medical centre. The land was expropriated in 2013 at nearly $8.1 million for an arena that was cancelled in 2015. The RMWB’s financial services staff say it is unlikely the RMWB will ever recover that money because land prices have plummeted from 2013 prices.
Peters still found the reduced price tag suspicious and mentioned some councillors were absent from recent meetings on the topic. Councillor Shafiq Dogar said he could not attend because he is being sued by SMG Builders’ owner.
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Mayor Sandy Bowman interrupted Dogar, who immediately yelled at Bowman that he was defending himself. Dogar’s microphone was cut and council unanimously supported a point of order against Dogar. Dogar later apologized to Bowman for his outburst.
Peters also called the temporary flood mitigation barriers “a serious waste of money” and accused the municipality of installing “mass surveillance systems” across Fort McMurray, naming 5G towers as an example.
Connie Shields said she believes the report to council on the tax rate bylaw had manipulated data. She also alleged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is guiding “certain offices within this municipality.” She also accused the RMWB of funding the organization and having members on UNESCO’s board. UNESCO’s current executive board does not include a Canadian delegation.
Council approved the new taxes, with only Dogar opposed. Councillors Loretta Waquan and Kendrick Cardinal were absent.
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vmcdermott@postmedia.com
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