The Town of Mayerthorpe is throwing its support behind a motion from Rocky Mountain House that calls on the Alberta government to take back responsibility for collecting school tax requisitions — a move local leaders say would clarify municipal tax notices and ease the burden on small-town administrations.
At its April 28 council meeting, Mayerthorpe unanimously agreed to second a resolution being advanced to the Alberta Municipalities (AB Munis) convention this fall. The resolution urges the province to collect the provincial education levy itself, rather than delegating that task to municipalities.
Mayor Janet Jabush said the decision was a “no-brainer” for her council.
“Especially where small towns are concerned, tax time is always tough. We’ve only got control over a couple of the line items on that tax bill,” she said in an interview. “But we’re responsible for collecting the education levy, the seniors’ levy, and now the policing levy. It makes municipalities look like the bad guy.”
Mayerthorpe residents are expected to see an average six per cent increase in the education portion of their tax bills this year. That number is also true in Rocky Mountain House, where council noted school tax increases could exceed 10 per cent next year.
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Currently, municipalities collect the education requisition on behalf of the province and are required to remit the full amount — even when property taxes go uncollected. Jabush said that financial pressure is felt acutely in small communities across the province, where delinquent tax files persist.
“Whether we collect it or not, we still have to pay it. That’s a huge burden for small towns,” she said. “It’s a money-in, money-out function for us, but we’re held responsible.”
She added that the confusion it creates among residents — who often believe their town is behind the increases — has only worsened in recent years as municipalities are asked to handle more provincial responsibilities.
Since the United Conservative Party took power, Jabush said, municipalities have seen a steady increase in what they refer to as “downloading” — the transfer of responsibilities from the provincial level to local governments.
“Every year, there’s something else. We’ve only got the same number of staff, the same budget constraints, and the same obligation to balance the books,” she said. “Where exactly are we supposed to find the capacity?”
The policing requisition is another point of contention. Jabush says Mayerthorpe’s levy is set to rise by roughly 12 per cent this year, and though that’s expected to hold steady next year during a funding model review, Jabush says it adds to the strain.
The AB Munis convention will take place Nov. 14–15 in Calgary. If passed, the Rocky Mountain House resolution would formally call on the province to once again take full responsibility for education tax collection, potentially reshaping how Alberta residents understand their tax bills.
While the resolution from Rocky Mountain House focuses solely on education levies, Jabush said she wouldn’t be surprised if similar proposals were put forward at the November convention in Calgary to address other provincial requisitions.
“In fact, if no one brings one forward on policing or the seniors’ levy, I think Mayerthorpe might be willing to sponsor one,” she added.
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