City Council to Consider proposed 2024 property tax plan

Prince Albert City Council will consider the proposed tax plan from Administration at the Monday, April 22, 2024 City Council Meeting. Among the components of the proposed tax plan are:

• 4.00% mill rate increase for 2024,
• $3 Snow Management special tax increase to $75
• $5 Base Tax increase to $45 for residential properties.

The Snow Management Special Tax increase will fund increased costs relating to snow management for the City.

An increase in base tax will fund annual operations, increased emergency services costs, and increased salaries, wages, and benefits for all city employees.

The Roadways Special Tax collects revenue to fund the annual Roadways Paving Program. The 2023 Tax Tools approved that the Roadways Special Tax increase include funding for the approved $300,000 Concrete Sidewalk, Curb & Median Rehabilitation Program. A 9.5% reduction is applied to all commercial tiers for the Roadways Special Tax.

This combination of tax tools, including the mill rate and special taxes, will raise the $2.55 million needed to fund 2024 priorities this year. The 2024 tax tools include a proposed one-time abatement program for commercial businesses that qualify.

Administration's budget proposal initially recommended a $4.4 million increase in the amount to be funded by property tax; following deliberations, that amount is now $2.55 million.

The following table illustrates the estimated impact on homes with different assessed values.

The tax plan also includes no change to the residential vacant land minimum tax of $1,600. This revenue will be set aside in a reserve to be used for a future incentive program for economic development initiatives that encourage further development. These funds will not be used to pay for the $2.55 million required for budget priorities this year.

The minimum tax will remain at $800, which ensures that all properties pay at least this amount to contribute to funding city services.

The Civic Facilities Levy, Destination Marketing Tax (applied to hotels), and Police Special Tax will remain unchanged.

Notable projects this year include:

$150,000	Playground replacement/upgrades.
$60,000	Cooke Municipal Golf Course Pathway network improvements.
$300,000	Concrete Sidewalk, Curb & Media Rehabilitation Program.
$4.1 M	Roadways Recapping Program to repave city streets.
$60,000	Reconstruction of park pathways at Midtown Playground, Cook Drive, Lake Estates and AC Howard Park.
$30,000	Improvements at Lakeland Ford Park, including fencing repairs, Ball Diamond Infield Grooming Equipment, and New Bases.
$30,000	Prime Ministers' Park Improvements, including new shale supply, new sound system for Kinsmen Field, Rotary Field Backstop and Bleacher Repairs.
$170,000	Art Hauser Centre Ice Plant Replacement.
$65,000	Cloverdale Road Repairs.

Tax tools are approved through the Tax Tool Bylaw, which requires three readings. Once a property tax plan is approved by City Council, Administration will forward a Tax Tools Bylaw for consideration and final approval.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Mayor Greg Dionne
(306) 953-4300

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