While it all might not go to the Town of Drumheller, local property taxpayers may see a jump on their bill.
On Monday of this week, Drumheller Town Council passed a bylaw to set its residential mill rate at 6.9857. This made a 4.6 per cent increase in tax dollars collected for residential and non residential taxes. In terms of individual taxes, Mayor Yemen said this amounts to about a 3 per cent increase for residents.
This rate does not include requisitioning amounts for schools and for the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation.
“Requisitions are completely separate from taxes,” said Yemen. “It is in there as a separate line item. People have to be cognizant, and not just read the bottom number, read everything there.”
Mayor Yemen said Town Council has little input in these rates and are simply charged with collecting them.
“The town is required to collect the requisitioning,” said Yemen, "…it is cash in, cash out.”
The Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation mill rate for residential went from .2817 in 2011 to .3380 in 2012. The education requisition went from 2.4469 in 2011 to 2.5772 in 2012.
The total mill rate, including requisitions went from 9.6414 in 2011 to 9.9009 in 2012 for residential. This means that for an average home with a 2012 assessment value of $189,949 the taxes collected by the Town of Drumheller will be $1,336.93. The total bill, including requisitions will be about $1,880.67. This is on average 6.26 per cent, however it is dependent on each individual property owners 2012 assessment. This is a $110.76 increase per year, or $9.23 per month.
Yemen said the requisitioning for Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation this year increased to $575,000, up $100,000, split between partner municipalities. Yemen said they expect the number to keep increasing each year.
“It is time for the provincial government to step up a little bit there. They have stepped away a little bit, and it is time for them to come back to the table,” said Yemen.
Included in each tax bill there is an insert containing details about taxes, including due date, penalties and procedures to appeal assessment. Residents cannot appeal taxes only their assessment.