Property owners will be paying more in taxes later this spring, but not as much as some might think. A 1.5 per cent decrease in the education levy in St.
Property owners will be paying more in taxes later this spring, but not as much as some might think.
A 1.5 per cent decrease in the education levy in St. Albert that the city collects on behalf of the province means the overall increase will be tempered significantly, in some cases actually dropping compared to 2012.
“The fact the amount has decreased brings a small bit of good news to the citizens of St. Albert as to what their taxes will be this year,” said Greg Dahlen, director of assessment and taxation services.
In total, the city will be collecting $81,692,900 for its own purposes this year from local property owners, excluding the education and Sturgeon Foundation levies. The lion’s share of that total – $77.1 million – will be the general municipal property tax. The city will also collect $3.28 million to pay the Servus Credit Union Place debenture, $994,900 to cover the operating losses at Servus Place, $149,822 and $109,822 for the annexed lands.
The education requisition isn’t the only total to decrease this year – the levy to pay off the debenture for Servus Place has also dropped due to new growth in the city. What started as a levy of $74 per $100,000 of assessment in 2005 when the money was first borrowed has now dropped to $32.89 per $100,000 due in part to new construction in the city.
“We get new growth every year and that will help us to reduce that rate,” Dahlen said.
The residential and non-residential mill rates for general revenue work out to 7.2788 mills and 10.9130 mills respectively.
“The one thing we do hear from residents on an ongoing basis is to maintain services without a high tax increase,” said Mayor Nolan Crouse. “I think what we were able to do is maintain services with a modest amount of growth with a modest increase. We’ve done that three years in a row now.”
For education, the city will collect slightly more than $27 million, down from $27.48 million in 2012. And for the Sturgeon Foundation, which operates seniors’ housing facilities in the Capital region, the city will collect $947,000, up 0.79 per cent over 2012.
Neither the education or Sturgeon Foundation requisitions are kept by the city. The education monies are sent to the province and the Sturgeon Foundation receives its requisition from partner communities.
What people will pay in total depends on the assessed value of their properties at the end of the calendar year. Owning a condo of $250,000 assessed value will bring a tax bill of $2,622, down $19 from 2012; the owner of a $400,000 home will pay $19 more this year at $4,164 and a business with a $1 million property will fork out $14,995, an increase of $586 over the previous year.
The city will mail out all of its tax notices on May 30 and the deadline for payment is June 30. Any late accounts will accrue penalties of three per cent on July 1, six per cent on Aug. 1 and nine per cent if the account still hasn’t been settled by Oct. 1.
Payment can be made by mail, in person at the city’s night deposit or at the cashier.
For a $400,000 home
Municipal tax $2,952<br />Servus Capital $132<br />Education Tax $1039<br />Sturgeon $36<br />Total tax bill $4,164
