Town adopts amendment of Senior Property Tax Rebate

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore council adopted an amendment to the Senior Property Tax Rebate Program policy, number 5103, during the Oct. 18 regular meeting. 

The discussion was introduced to council during the Committee of the Whole meeting, Oct. 11. The rebate program is designed to ensure certain levels of affordability for residents of Strathmore by offering a subsidy to support low-income senior property owners.

As discussed during the Committee of the Whole meeting, and presented in council’s agenda, the proposed amendment to the policy was to remove the income thresholds and instead, utilize the income threshold as listed on the Government of Alberta Special Needs Assistance for Seniors webpage. 

Prior to the adoption of the amendment during the council meeting, administration had noted that the town’s policy included income thresholds which were noted to be outdated. 

Coun. Brent Wiley opposed the amendment, and motioned to rescind the policy entirely, following up to comments he made during the Committee of the Whole meeting. 

“Property taxes are a burden for everyone. Everyone I know is making significant sacrifices in their lives in order to pay for the rising cost of living … I am talking about people making decisions on what groceries to buy, their children are not in the programs that they were in,” he said. “I am talking about extreme situations … I am talking about significant burdens on all taxpayers. Anywhere that I see an opportunity to cut taxes, to cut that burden from our taxpayers, I am going to seriously look at, and this is one that the small amount of property tax rebate that these seniors are going to receive is enough that we would all be sharing the very heavy tax burden.”

In discussion regarding Wiley’s motion, Coun. Denise Peterson described her awareness that people are suffering and struggling, however, seniors who have no capacity to earn additional income outside of their pensions, are living within extremely narrow financial boundaries. 

“The benefits that (seniors) do receive are taxable, and rebates can offset that tax burden, as well as make a huge difference,” she said.

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 “While it may seem like a small amount in the context of the budgets that we deal with, or the costs that people are facing in their living, to seniors, they have articulated repeatedly that these are extremely important and very helpful benefits.”

Budd Brazier, community and social development manager with Strathmore Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), reiterated at the request of Mayor Pat Fule, in 2019, the policy cost the town approximately $19,400 and serviced 132 homeowners. In 2020, it cost the town $14,150 and serviced 92 clients. In 2021, 117 clients were serviced, with $18,400 being distributed. In 2022, 66 clients were serviced, costing the town approximately $10,700 through the program. 

Wiley’s motion was defeated 5-1 against following discussion. 

Coun. Jason Montgomery motioned to adopt the amended policy as presented, but also to direct administration to explore a cap on the value of somebody’s property who would be able to qualify for the rebate. Montgomery’s motion was defeated following discussion.

Coun. Melissa Langmaid motioned to adopt the amended policy as presented in the agenda. The motion was carried 4-2 without further discussion.