The Saskatchewan Rural Municipality of McKillop will operate under a government-appointed supervisor for the next year.
Vern Palmer, a retired RM administrator, will oversee operations as the RM implements recommendations from an inspector’s report.
The government received Carol Ingham’s report in mid-September. She was appointed in August after numerous complaints from ratepayers about tax hikes and petitions that hadn’t been acted on.
McKillop lies along the east shore of Last Mountain Lake and includes a number of resort communities.
Ingham recommended that the minister appoint a supervisor to help carry out other actions based on her investigation.
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They include that the RM council hold referendums about boundary alterations and the authority of resort communities, a complete financial and management audit, and that the council work with residents of Sun Dale, an unorganized hamlet, on a new utility rate bylaw.
Property taxes went up substantially in August after the RM council said it received unexpected news of a deficit. Most of the increase fell on the residential class of taxpayers and there was talk of a tax revolt.
“During the high-level inspection no documents were discovered that provided an explanation or basis for this decision by the RM,” Ingham wrote in her report.
She found “no factual evidence of theft, fraud or misappropriation” during her inspection.
Ingham noted that Canada Revenue Agency has advised the RM it will audit its 2016 and 2017 finances because the T4s do not match what the RM submitted.
Government relations minister Warren Kaeding said Palmer is a capable administrator who will guide the RM council as it makes decisions and acts on the recommendations.
“We’ve asked Mr. Palmer to approve bylaws and resolutions” he said. “We’ve asked him to attend all the meetings, both regular meetings, special council meetings, committee meetings.”
He will report monthly to the ministry.
The RM is expected to have referendums on the ballot during Oct. 24 elections.
