There are concerns here in our community about the impact on revenues for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo if the province’s sweeping Bill 21, which proposes changes to the Municipal Government Act, is approved.
One of the elements the bill would change is the way municipalities, including the RMWB collect taxes.
Despite those concerns, Wildrose Leader and Fort McMurray-Conklin MLA Brian Jean said our community is getting a bit of breathing room.
“We’re happy to report that after many consultations with ourselves, Tany (Yao, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA) and myself, the NDP government has agreed to grandfather the municipality and other communities whos ratios exceed 5:1,” said Jean.
That means the RMWB will be able to maintain its commercial:residential tax ratio of 18.3:1 provided they go no higher.
“I think this is a fair and balanced approach right now, especially given where our community is,” said Jean. “It’s certainly in the best interest of our community and I’m hopeful that the NDP government won’t remove that grandfather clause any time soon.”
What Jean isn’t certain of is for how long the RMWB be able to continue maintaining the current rate.
“Right now we know the NDP is getting a lot of pressure in relation to many different files, including of course their carbon tax that’s going to be implemented, and one month from today the accelerated shut down of coal and many of the other impacts on our industries including the energy industry and our agriculture industry, so I do believe that, at least for the next foreseeable future, they will keep it grandfathered and they will not make any changes to it to make the new law apply.”
Jean said the RMWB has been good stewards of taxpayer money and knowing the ratio will change at some time in the future will encourage them to continue to look at tightening spending and making sure your dollars are well spent.
He said it is in the best interest of the community the grandfathering clause continue rather than increasing property taxes, saying that Mayor Melissa Blake told him that would bankrupt a community that has already been through so much.
The RMWB is working with industry on what will likely be a five-year plan to move to a 5:1 ratio by adjusting both the taxes for commercial and residential.
Jean said what is most important is that the municipality continue to steward the money of taxpayers well by paying for infrastructure, programs, and services that are needed in the community.
