Businesses outside of the urban bounds of Fort McMurray will be getting a break on taxes.
During Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, the province passed an order in council that would expand the city’s Urban Service Area.
Municipal Affairs spokesperson Jennifer Renner says it’s going to help business owners and support growth in Fort McMurray.
“This change will result in a substantial reduction in property tax rate for the affected properties. That’s because the urban tax rate is substantially lower than the rural tax rate for non-residential properties,” she said.
Renner says properties outside the boundary are subject to hire taxes, and it makes for hesitant developers.
“It’s going to help support business developers and the growth in Fort McMurray which obviously is a huge priority for this government,” she said.
She says properties such as Abram’s Land and the Prairie Creek Business Park will be included in the urban area.
