Living Sky School Division hasn't said much on the record about the City of North Battleford's plan to levy a special tax on all property, including school property, in order to address deteriorating infrastructure, but it has requested a meeting.
When the City's 2015 budget was finalized, Mayor Ian Hamilton confirmed normally tax-exempt properties – including churches, health facilities and school properties – would have to pay the special tax.
The special tax is being held in a separate account to go strictly towards underground pipe and asphalt infrastructure projects. It calculated at $3 per foot of frontage.
Hamilton defended the special tax as necessary to address the infrastructure needs of the city.
He explained the current rate of underground pipe replacement inadequate, and that the two senior levels of government were “offering only a fraction of the costs” to deal with the issue.
“We are essentially left to address this problem on our own,” said Hamilton.
The mayor explained a special tax based on foot frontage across the entire city would spread the burden more equitably, and also confirmed the special tax would be expanded in coming years.
While “underground pipe” is included in the name of the special tax, it will be used in 2015 for asphalt work to complete 100th Street from 14th Avenue to 20th Avenue.
