Town trimming back tax incentive program
Battleford town council hopes to save some money by reducing its tax discount program, but without taking away from one of the municipality’s attractive offerings.
Council approved amending the tax payment discount policy at Monday’s meeting so the discount would be available from January to April only in 2019, instead of January to May. The tax discount has also been reduced by one per cent for each month from the current discount rates in place. To receive the discounts, ratepayers will need to pre-pay their municipal taxes in full, in advance of billing.
Administrators recommended a one-time tax discount but council opted to keep the existing program somewhat intact.
“When you look at it from an averaging perspective, the recommendation that council put forth is only an average of 5.25 per cent,” Mayor Ames Leslie said of the discount. “I think council is looking at it as – what are those things people look at when they choose the town of Battleford to live in.”