Options for property tax payments

BARRHEAD - Town of Barrhead residents will have a few more options when it comes to paying their annual property tax bill.
In three straight readings on April 28, councillors unanimously passed Bylaw 06-2020, also known as the Property Tax Bylaw.

The bylaw extends the tax payment deadline by three months from June 30 to Sept. 30 for both residential and non-residential accounts.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Edward LeBlanc said the bylaw is the result of an April 16 closed-door budget deliberation meeting.

As part of the meeting, councillors discussed several options to help residents cope with financial implications brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying Alberta Health Services (AHS) mandated restrictions.
The bylaw also gives residents, who have already opted for the monthly instalment plan to defer payment for up to three months, but it should be noted that the account must be paid in full by Dec. 31.

Non-residential accounts would also be given the option of amortizing their 2020 taxes and estimated 2021 property taxes and entering into an instalment payment plan with full payment due by Dec. 31, 2021.
“Any instalment plan would not be subject to any penalty charges providing payments remain in good standing and they adhere to the terms of the agreement,” LeBlanc said.

He added during their budget deliberations councillors decided that four or more residential units under the terms of an instalment payment plan qualified as a non-residential account.

“Not in terms of assessment or mill-rate but just for the tax instalment plan,” LeBlanc said.

Coun. Rod Klumph asked how difficult the various instalment options plans were to administer.

“Should we consider this on a case-by-case basis to make sure this works out?” he asked.

LeBlanc noted the program wouldn’t be hard to administer, saying an application form would be included with resident’s tax notices.

“People can simply check if they want to participate in one of the plans and mail it back to us,” he said. “Our goal is that residents who choose monthly instalments would stay enrolled in the program. It is beneficial for both parties,” he said.

In the information package, it states that about 25 per cent of residential accounts and 17 per cent of non-residential accounts are taking advantage of the municipality’s current monthly instalment plan.

Mayor Dave McKenzie added the Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Merchants Association were given the “heads up” and they were both on board with the proposed payment options.

Coun. Ty Assaf says the community’s businesses have especially been hit hard by the restrictions imposed by Alberta Health Services.
“I think this payment plan is going to help out and it shows the residents that we are doing our best to keep our community afloat and we are there to help out,” he said.

Assaf added it was only one of the measures council was doing to help residents financially during the COVID-19 outbreak, noting specifically that earlier in the meeting council approved the 2020 budget that included a zero per cent mill rate increase.

On March 24, councillors unanimously passed Bylaw 05-2020. Under the bylaw, when there has been a declared disaster or significant event that impacts the municipality, the CAO will now have the ability to extend the due date of the billing cycle, waive or adjust penalties and create a deferral payment plan for account holders.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.