The final step in the budget process for 2013 in North Battleford is now a reality: tax notices have been sent out.
Finance Director Matthew Hartney confirmed to reporters Monday that property owners should already have seen their tax notices show up in the mail. The only people still waiting for tax notices should be those property owners outside the city.
The taxes for 2013 take into account an overall 4.99 per cent increase in total operating revenue as well as 6.9 per cent water and sewer rate increases. That doesn't mean everyone's taxes will go up, though, as a number of things will impact on the final bill residents will get in the mail.
The biggest impact in 2013 is from the change in assessment of property values for this tax year, with property values generally going up throughout the city. That impacts peoples' tax bills in different ways.
"For the average person the residential homeowner in North Battleford, you can expect a modest increase or a modest decrease in some cases," said Hartney.
"That would reflect not budget changes for the City, but that's the changes to the assessed values of properties. We've noticed, for example, in the change of assessment by the province as of 2011, some properties, say, on the west side or the southern part of the city have gone up more in relation to other places like Killdeer or Fairview. And so there's been some shifts in where the dollars come from."
Another key point Hartney points out is that there will also be school taxes included as part of the bill, which is not part of City taxes but is still collected by them for the school divisions.
"When you look at your total tax bill, please recognize part of that is school tax that has nothing to do with the City, but that we're the ones collecting it," said Hartney.
Also of note is there is a two-year phase-in period for commercial tax, due to the change in assessed value.
An information sheet is included with the tax notices explaining the impact of the changes in this 2013 year.
For residents with questions, concerns or even gripes about the tax bill, Hartney welcomes any calls looking for answers or explanations.
He encourages people to contact him directly at 306-445-1716. He also says anyone with concerns is encouraged to drop by City Hall and meet with him directly.
"I'll be happy to meet with anyone who wants to discuss their value for tax, what they're paying for what they receive in the city, or just to better understand it. I think that's sometimes taken for granted, that it's a complicated matter, but it really isn't. I really hope that every property owner can understand how their taxes are calculated, and if they have any questions at all I would be more than happy to speak with them, positive or negative feedback."
