CALGARY – A new system of collecting education property taxes in Alberta has just become law.
The departments of education and municipal affairs announced April 25 the basic uniform provincial rate has been set at 7.3 mills for 1995.
Reductions in tax will occur in 67 percent of Alberta municipalities representing 88 percent of the population. In Calgary, the tax reduction for an average property owner will be about $22 a year.
Boards concerned
This follows a 1994 decision that the province, rather than local school boards will collect education taxes. The uniform tax rate will be phased in over three years.
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Some rural school boards were concerned the move gave the province too much control over the local boards.
But education minister Halvar Jonson said funds will be allocated to school boards so that all boards receive a fair share of provincial education dollars.
The majority of tax increases or decreases for property owners are no more than 10 percent.
Increases of more than 10 percent over 1994 will include the following:
- Improvement District No. 4 (Waterton Townsite) – 25 percent.
- Municipal District of Acadia -18.1 percent.
- M.D. of Bighorn – 25 percent.
- M.D. of Cypress – 25 percent.
- Fox Creek – 18.91 percent.
- Oyen – 12.70 percent.
- Rimbey – 14.25 percent.
- Swan Hills – 25 percent.
- Valleyview – 13.41 percent.
By 1997, taxpayers will be spending $2.84 billion on education.
