Drumheller town council gave first and second reading to this year’s tax rate bylaw to establish a mill rate.
Earlier this year the Town of Drumheller approved its 2011 budget requiring tax revenue of $6,964,241. Requisitions from the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation have jumped from $125,094 last year to $245,623 this year. The Alberta School Foundation Fund requisition is $2,022,689.75, up from $1,950,187.38, and the requisitions from Christ the Redeemer School Division is $402,333.91, up from $392,027.60.
The 2011 mill rate has been set at 9.6141, per $1,000 of assessment, for residential, up from 9.3798 in 2010. This is made up of 6.9128 for municipal taxes, 2.4469 for education and 0.2817 for the Seniors Foundation. For non-residential taxes, the rate has been 14.8414, up from 14.3538 in 2010, with a municipal tax rate of 10.7962, 3.7635 for education and .2817 for the Seniors Foundation.
“Each year council approves the amount of revenues needed to support town services. Administration has prepared a tax rate bylaw and council will need to approve a bylaw which will collect the budget revenues approved by council for 2011. The process allows us to provide a good quality service for the citizens of Drumheller,” said CAO Ray Romanetz.
The 2011 budget called for a 3 per cent tax increase with additional anticipated revenue of 1.5 per cent based on new growth. Director of Corporate Services Michael Roy explains this increase will be reflected differently on each resident’s tax bill because it is based on the mill rate and each individual assessment.
“On average we are collecting so much more in revenue, but how much each person pays of the pie will vary depending on how much of the share of the pie they have changed based on the overall assessment,” said Roy.
Third and final reading of the bylaw will be at the May 24 council meeting.
How to figure out your tax bill
Your tax rate is based on the mill rate, approved by Drumheller town council, multiplied by a resident’s property assessment and divided by 1,000.
For example, for a property assessed at $150,000, the calculation would be: $150,000 x 9.6141=$1,442,115.
This figure, divided by $1,000 equals a tax bill of $1,442.16.
Taxes cannot be appealed, only a property assessment can be disputed.
To appeal your assessment, a written appeal must be filed with the Assessment Review Board Clerk within 30 days of the tax notice being issued.
There is a charge of $30 per assessment for residential and farmlands, and an $80 fee for appeal of other types of assessments. Forms are available at www.dinosaurvalley.com or at town hall.
Taxes are issued once the mill rate is set by council.
