St. Albert renters will now be included in a survey on capital spending priorities that was initially intended for homeowners only.
Council unanimously approved a modified questionnaire at the Aug. 22 meeting. Although the council motion to prepare and conduct the survey specified it should go to “only residential owners/taxpayers,” city staff pointed out this potentially violates the council policy on public communication.
Corporate planning co-ordinator Darija Slokar presented two versions of a questionnaire to council, with one also allowing for renters to provide feedback.
“The homeowners and renters version also includes renters, because they’re affected by tax increases indirectly,” she said. “People that own homes in St. Albert may pass on a tax increase to renters through an increase in rent.”
She explained limiting the questionnaire to homeowners would also violate council’s policy on public communication, which specifies that the city endeavours to “provide equitable opportunities for all residents to participate, be heard and provide input.”
In introducing the motion at the June 20 meeting, Mayor Nolan Crouse was firm he just wanted property taxpayers and not renters or adult children to answer the survey.
“I’m really focused on the people who have to pay the bill,” he said. The majority of council agreed with him, voting 5-2 against Coun. Tim Osborne’s motion to remove references to taxpayers only from the motion.
Crouse said this week he could support the modified questionnaire because it stays within budget and will still allow for the same numbers of responses from homeowners.
Slokar told council the $30,000 budget for the survey had extra room to allow consultation with renters as well, and the council could still get the 400 responses it sought.
Banister Research representative Tracy With, who council has contracted to administer the survey, explained once the surveyors get a renter on the phone and go through the introductory spiel, it doesn’t take much more time to just get their responses as well.
“My estimate is we’ll see about 20 per cent of the final amount be renters,” or roughly 80 responses, she said.
Coun. Cathy Heron said she was happy to know all residents would have the opportunity to provide feedback, noting she had heard from residents on the matter.
“I’ve had calls from long-term St. Albert residents who are renters, who felt they should have that voice,” she said. “If you’re a long-term renter in St. Albert, you eventually take on the burden of a long-term property tax increase passed on by your landlord.”
“I don’t support disenfranchising members of our community on the basis of home ownership,” Osborne added.
Survey respondents will be asked to rank the importance of three new capital projects: a new branch library, a new indoor ice surface and a new aquatics facility with lane swimming. Respondents will also be asked how much of a tax increase – or a rent increase as the case may be – they would be willing to accept to get these facilities built.
According to the draft questionnaire, the combined capital and operating costs of the library and swimming pool will mean an estimated increase of roughly 2.5 per cent on property taxes each, while the ice arena comes in slightly less at two per cent. The estimated increases only take into account the annual operating costs. The cost to purchase land was not included.
The phone survey will be conducted Sept. 6 to 18.
