Tax decision delayed by council at last meeting

Special meeting was set for April 21 as councillors weigh municipal increase against school requisition jump and other added costs

Crowsnest Pass council put off a final decision on the municipality’s 2026 property tax rate bylaw Tuesday, April 14, choosing instead to hold a special meeting set the following week after a lengthy discussion about what residents will see on their tax bills.

Council had been asked to consider second and third reading of Bylaw 1267, 2026, the annual tax rate bylaw that sets the rates needed to raise the approved municipal tax revenue for the year. Administration told council the current proposal reflected the 0.26 mill rate increase approved during budget deliberations but also noted there were other pressures outside council’s direct control, including the provincial school requisition and the renewed seniors housing requisition.

Deputy CAO Kristin Colucci said the annual bylaw process always brings several moving parts together, but council’s direct control is limited to the municipal portion.

“When municipal governments across the province talk about mill rate increases, they’re referring to the percentage increase of this year’s mill rate over the previous year,” she said. “That is where council has their decision-making properties.”

Colucci said the municipality approved a 2026 operating and capital budget with a municipal tax requirement of $12,994,229. Based on updated assessment figures, holding to the previously approved 0.26 mill rate increase would bring in about $580,546 more than budgeted.

She said that extra revenue could be directed to reserves and later used for capital work, reducing debt reliance or covering expenses that were not included in the budget.

At the same time, administration noted there were post budget pressures already emerging, including about $100,000 more than expected in policing costs and an added expense tied to upcoming strategic planning work.

Sally Turner, manager of finance, also clarified that the Alberta School Foundation Fund and the seniors housing requisition are shown separately from municipal taxes on tax notices, but still contribute to what residents ultimately pay.

Councillor Dean Ward said that broader picture was exactly why he was reluctant to leave the full proposed increase in place, especially after the province’s sizable school tax hike.

“The taxpayer’s going to get hammered this year, 18 per cent on the educational,” he said.

Ward said council also needs to account for possible legal costs and other future planning work, but argued there should still be some effort to cushion the blow for residents. He said he would like to see a two per cent reduction in the proposed mill rate increase and also suggested the municipality consider enhancing its low-income seniors tax rebate.

“My biggest concern with the tax increase is the lower income consumers,” he said.

Mayor Pat Rypien said she would prefer to wait until Councillor Darren Nastasi returns before making a final decision, saying more discussion would be valuable.

“I think it would be good if Councillor Nastasi were back,” she said. “If we could go to a special meeting, have a little bit more discussion, I think would be valuable for all of us before we make any decisions.”

Council agreed and voted to defer the bylaw to a special meeting scheduled for April 21 at 4 p.m.