City owed $161,000 in property tax payments

When it comes to late property tax payments, the City of Meadow Lake is getting a jump on things.

The city maintains a list of lot-holders who have arrears of $100 and up. As of the end March, there were over 70 properties listed and council had to decide how to proceed before placing liens on the properties with outstanding tax debts.

“We have, over the last couple years, learned that starting this process earlier because we’re allowed to is a little bit better,” City Manager Diana Burton said. “We are starting it earlier in the year so it doesn’t put us behind.”

Council had a choice of two different options on how to proceed due to a recent tax exemption request. A local developer, BED Holdings, asked for a break in taxes because a number of the properties on their lots have not yet been sold. The developer was greatly impacted by the 2017 shift in the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s lending rules and interest rates, leading a total of 14 buyers to back out last year. Only two lots were sold, so the company is looking at different ways to support potential buyers with financing.

Council decided they needed time to review that decision, and Mayor Gary Vidal said they are going to take the time to create a new policy and clarify the city’s rules.

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“We will review our existing tax incentive policies,” he said. “We will look at what other communities are doing for tax incentives so that we consider other alternatives, rather than just dealing with things that all of a sudden come to us.”

The city decided to advertise a list of delinquent properties, excluding the aforementioned developer for now, until a decision is made. The total amount they will be looking to collect is $161,853 from 72 property owners.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath