The Town of Battleford made some adjustments to its property tax pre-payment discount program for 2020. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Town discounts for tax prepayment see slight change

Dec 17, 2019 | 12:13 PM

Those who take advantage of the Town of Battleford’s discount offer for ratepayers who pay their municipal taxes in advance will want to note changes to the program.

The town’s approved 2020 budget will still offer the property tax pre-payment discount program, but with slightly smaller discounts than in 2019.

For 2020, ratepayers paying their taxes in January receive a six per cent discount, for February five per cent, March four per cent, with no discount for payments in April and May.

In comparison, in 2019 the discount for January payments was seven per cent, February six per cent, March five per cent, April three per cent, and for May no discount.

The town has been gradually reducing the discount value each year because providing ratepayers who pay in advance with discounts impacts the town’s revenue. In 2019 the actual cost to the town to offer the discount was $81,000, while in 2020 the projected cost is $71,000. In 2018 the actual cost to the town was $95,000.

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CAO John Enns-Wind said during council Monday that previously administration recommended the town reduce the discounts in 2020 so the projected cost to the town would be $61,000, which would be $20,000 less than in 2019. But, he related, council requested a more modest reduction of the discount, so the town’s projected cost would be $71,000 instead for 2020, or a $10,000 savings compared to the 2019 cost, as reflected in the approved budget.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow