Mill rates unchanged

By J.W. Schnarr
For the Sunny South News

Coaldale ratepayers will see their mill rates unchanged for 2016.
During their regular meeting on May 9, council passed all three readings on the 2016 Mill Rate Bylaw with the option of a zero per cent increase for both residential and non-residential property.
The total mill rate for 2016 is 10.4772 (municipal portion 7.9518) for residential and 13.3657 (municipal portion 10.0896) for non-residential.
Coun. Jacen Abrey was the lone holdout for a tax decrease, but ultimately he voted in favour of council’s decision in order to avoid delays.
“Looking at these numbers, and with our economic times, I would support (a one per cent decrease), where we can give a bit of a decrease,” he said. “We’re still going to put the same amount into our reserves as 2015, so it shouldn’t be an impact in the operations of the town.”
Mayor Kim Craig countered with another option that would see a zero per cent increase, citing the possible impact of tax reductions on future budgets. “A decrease, though well-intentioned, goes out into the future,” he said. “It affects future budgets.”
Coun. Roger Hohm supported the suggestion by the mayor, stating with the projects happening in the town, this was a year to “hold the line.”
“To protect our long-term infrastructure needs in this town, and we know we’re looking at some huge dollar values for infrastructure.”

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