Small property tax rate increase for Blackfalds this year

Residents of Blackfalds are due to see a small increase in their property taxes this year.

As the Town enters a second year of operations during the coronavirus pandemic, Town officials say council and administration remain committed to alleviating some of the financial strain on taxpayers by implementing a 0.6 per cent tax rate this year, a moderate increment after a 0 per cent increase in 2020.

“Administration is happy to have found the required cutbacks to reduce the property tax increase down from 1.5 per cent to 0.6 per cent without any major service interruptions,” according to Director of Corporate Services Justin de Bresser, in a press release. “The pandemic is still having a major effect on the municipality’s revenues and operations, and administration is proceeding with the utmost caution for the remainder of the year.”

Mayor Richard Poole acknowledged that both he and council are aware of the challenges that the past year has brought to the community.