Town passes 2024 Supplementary Assessment Bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore Council gave third reading to its 2024 Supplementary Assessment Bylaw, No. 24-04, during the Jan. 17 regular meeting of council. 

The bylaw is designed to provide clear parameters to ensure that taxes are levied fairly, and town revenues are stable. 

“This is our annual bylaw that allows our appointed assessor, Wild Rose Assessment Services, for the municipality to determine new improvements added to our properties since Dec. 31 of the previous year,” said Leana Ashbacher, senior manager of financial services for the Town of Strathmore. “Without this bylaw, we cannot do supplementary assessments which adds additional revenue to the organization.”

The supplementary assessment bylaw is an annual bylaw request submitted to council every January, and at the time, Ashbacher requested council pass all three readings of the bylaw during the meeting at which it was presented.

Organizational implications of the recommendation ensures that the town will have the means to pay for offering the programs and services to new taxpayers.

The intent of the recommendation was to allow the town to impose taxes on all partially constructed or additional buildings constructed throughout the year. Being an annual process, this allows the town to be able to capitalize on property taxes from new developments as it continues to grow and expand. 

This implies that tax revenue for the town will be increased due to new construction completed throughout the capital year. 

In the publicly available document, which was presented to council for review, it is stated exact estimates regarding increases to tax revenue are difficult to estimate, as changes will depend on the volume of new construction taking place within Strathmore. 

Section 313, Subsection 1 of the Municipal Government Act allows council to pass a bylaw authorizing supplementary assessments to be prepared for the purpose of imposing a tax under Part 10 of the Act in the same year. 

In the Municipal Government Act, Section 313 also speaks to the preparation of supplementary assessments, this bylaw, and it makes reference to all improvements, and all manufactured homes within the municipality.

Without passing the bylaw, the town would be unable to prepare supplementary assessments during the taxation year for several improvements that are outlined within the publicly available request for decision. 

Motions to pass readings for Bylaw 24-04 made by Coun. Denise Peterson and Coun. Melissa Langmaid were passed unanimously by council. All three readings were passed during the Jan. 17 meeting, as requested by town administration.