Stettler town council heard a report on the level of unpaid property taxes in the municipality, and the result was heartening. The report was made at the Jan. 16 regular meeting of council.
Councillors read a report presented by Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Steven Gerlitz detailing the 2023 tax receivables, including a comparison of the number of local properties that had unpaid property taxes in 2022 and those that had unpaid property taxes in 2023.
Gerlitz pointed out that in 2023 one property was listed for tax recovery sale; that is, the property would go through a process under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) where the municipality in essence sells a property linked to an unpaid tax bill and applies funds to that unpaid bill.
It was further noted in the report that in 2024 there are 10 such properties that have an arrears total of just over $109,000. Additionally, in 2024 the Town of Stettler will have 23 properties on an instalment plan.
In an email to the ECA Review Jan. 17, Gerlitz stated the amount of unpaid property taxes in the Town of Stettler is quite low.
“Our total tax receivable at Dec. 31, 2023 was 2.5 per cent ($232,998 / $9,138,912). The $9,138,912 is our total property tax levy,” stated the email.
“If you take out the properties currently in the tax recovery process and tax instalment plans, 70 properties remain. The tax receivable for those 70 properties is $111,974.57 – 1.2 per cent of the total tax levy.”
He further noted to council the Town of Stettler staff goes above and beyond when it comes to tax recovery; staff hand-deliver notices to properties and have personal meetings with property owners.
He added that the Town of Stettler wants to work with people rather than use a heavy-handed approach.
Councillors accepted the report as information.
Child advocacy centre
During the council reports portion of the agenda Coun. Gord Lawlor, Cheryl Barros, Scott Pfeiffer and Travis Randell all reported recently taking part in a tour of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) in Red Deer with all of them agreeing the centre is quite impressive; CACAC representatives have appeared before Stettler town council in the past requesting funds to subsidize the social agency.
According to presentations made to council and information on CACAC’s website, the organization is a non-profit dedicated to supporting children and youth who suffered abuse or trauma; it was pointed out the organization is central Alberta-based, not solely Red Deer oriented and was further noted Stettler children and youth have benefitted from this agency.
Coun. Lawlor related a story of two local youth who were abused but benefitted from the help of CACAC. Lawlor suggested he would be bringing up this organization’s request when the town begins 2024 budget deliberations.
Rodeo request
Mayor Sean Nolls noted he’d recently attended a Steel Wheels Stampede board meeting and the topic of whether or not a rodeo would be held in Stettler this year was discussed.
Nolls noted the rodeo board is concerned about the low number of volunteers they’re operating under, and stated they would like more people to join up. Nolls noted there’s a number of different jobs available.
During discussion the mayor noted low volunteerism isn’t just an issue facing the Steel Wheels Stampede, but an issue facing many groups.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
