Nipawin’s council is planning two meetings to hash out how it will levy taxes this year.
The town will have to raise an extra 2.2 per cent – around $97,000 – to meet the expenses planned in its budget, passed April 24.
Barry Elliott, the town’s administrator, said his staff will be presenting council with a number of options at the May 16 and 17 meetings.
“For the most part, it will be working through a number of tax options to come up with what council believes is reasonable across the board.”
Council has two broad tools to levy tax. The base tax is a flat rate that’s applied to all properties. The mill rate is based off of a proportion of a property’s assessed value. They can apply different base tax and mill rates to different classifications, like residental, commercial and agricultural properties.
“I know that council, without question, they will be taking a good look at the base tax portion of the tax levy and making some decisions in relation to that,” Elliott said.
Complicating the process is the fact properties are being reassessed this year. Yet while assessments might go out, councils tend to readjust the mill rate downward so that residents aren’t paying any more, with the exception of the extra money needed to fund the budget. It’s those who have properties that have been reassessed at an amount higher or lower than the average that could see a difference in their tax bill.
Hawks concerned about fees
The Nipawin Hawks are concerned about their ice time fees.
At the May 8 council meeting, Darren Opp, the president of the Hawks, made a brief presentation about the rental fees they have to pay.
“He’s only asked that council take another look at the rates and get back to the Hawks on that to see if there’s any opportunity for a reduction somewhere,” Elliott said.
The administrator said there’s a couple of elements of the fee structure that the team is concerned about.
The issue was sent to parks and recreation committee to be discussed.
Gymnastics group wants to build permanent location
The Nipawin Center for Gymnastic and Athletic Development has outgrown the gym at Wagner Elementary, so they are hoping to build a permanent location.
That’s why they are asking council to subdivide and then sell a parcel of property near Central Park. They also hope they can get a three to five year municipal tax break to help with start-up costs.
Elliott said the issue has been discussed by a few town committees. It is now being sent to the economic development committee where a recommendation for a course of action will be given to council.
Exhibition wants to expand barn
Faced with heavy demand, the Nipawin Exhibition Association wants to expand its barn.
The association has seen its light horse show increase from 70 horses to 110 and its heavy horse show increase from nothing to 24 horses. They have had to turn away exhibitors due to lack of space.
The plan is to expand the cattle barn and use a portion of that to house light horses. The estimated cost for that expansion is almost $20,000.
Elliott said that issue too will go to the economic development committee.
