(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Education taxation

Education portion of taxes going up, but town still has zero per cent increase

Apr 21, 2021 | 2:34 PM

The Town of Battleford residents will likely see an increase in the educational portion of their property tax bills when they receive them in the mail.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the town is still keeping to its promise of having no increase on the municipal portion of people’s tax bills, but he said the province has decided to increase the educational part.

”I just want to remind everybody that this is the educational portion. The town just collects it on behalf of the province. Then, sends them the money,” he said.

Leslie said the province announced it is committed to more investment into education, and one way it will fund that is by increasing the mill rates.

“The government has decided to increase the educational portion of your [residential] tax, which is about 0.34 of a mill increase rate. So it’s not quite a half a per cent but you definitely will notice it, dependent on your home,” he said.

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This hasn’t happened in a couple of years, Leslie said, and the town has no decision in the matter.

According to CAO Ash Alam’s report, educational property tax mill rates have been set by the province and are to be applied to all taxable assessments every year.

The Town of Battleford indicated there is no financial implication to the municipality since it simply collects the funds for the province. Administration stated all reporting needs to be done properly and on time, otherwise the town will have to pay fines.

Council approved administration’s recommendation that the town authorizes the 2021 Education Uniform Mill Rates as set by the Province of Saskatchewan for the Living Sky School Division No. 202, in accordance with The Municipalities Act.

As a result, compared to 2020, agricultural property rates decreased to 1.36 mills in 2021 from 1.43 mills last year; residential property mill rates increased to 4.46 mills from 4.12 mills; commercial/industrial rates increased to 6.75 mills from 6.27 mills; and resources (oil and gas; mines and pipelines) increased to 9.79 mills from 9.68 mills last year.

According to the province, similar to last year, in 2021 eight separate school divisions in Saskatchewan, including Light of Christ RCSSD 16, have passed bylaws indicating they will determine their own education property tax rates.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW