Dave Mabell
LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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Contrary to provincial promises, Lethbridge homeowners are facing an unexpected tax hike.
The Conservative government's decision to boost its education levy means the city's "average" property tax bill could increase as much as $120 this year, city council learned Tuesday.
While the Alison Redford government's first budget boasted no new taxes -and no tax hikes - city treasurer Corey Wight warned that's not the reality. In fact, he said, the education levy the city is required to collect was boosted 9.5 per cent over last year's level.
That's a $62 jump over last year, on a "typical" single-family home in Lethbridge assessed at $285,000. And it's more than the $53 property tax increase council agreed to last fall, after debating the city's operating budgets for the next three years.
Although the city is obliged to collect, pointed out Mayor Rajko Dodic, more than half of the $120 increase will be going directly to provincial coffers - not to city operations.
While it's still described as an education levy, the province's part of the annual property tax no longer goes to local school boards either.
Once final tax calculations are complete - including a small levy from the Green Acres Foundation as well - property tax notices will be sent out in April. Taxes are due by the end of June.
At the same time, Wight reported analysis of the provincial budget shows a slight boost in the city's Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant for 2012. It's going to move up from $14.8 million to $15.1 million this year.
"That's welcome news," he added.
MSI grants are directed toward capital costs of such projects such as the twin arenas and curling club planned for a westside site near the city's new high schools.