A selection of bylaws was brought to the table at council May 13, with council starting things off with approval of the Annual Tax Rate Bylaw.
The bylaw, which will see an average municipal tax increase of 6.2 per cent, was carried through unanimously. The jump will cover the increasing cost of fire services and the 8.17 per cent increase in education taxes.
The municipal tax levy for the average single family home, excluding fire services, was not increased in 2013.
Presented to council by Paige Milner, senior manager of corporate services, the tax rate bylaw showed the final assessment values for 2012 were $3.53 billion — $3.1 billion is residential and $449 million is non-residential. Cochrane’s 2013 assessment base is 87.5 per cent residential and 12.5 per cent non-residential.
The Town of Cochrane needs to raise $27.8 million in taxes and requisitions for the 2013.
The first reading of a new Water Utility Bylaw, which will repeal the existing bylaw to make room for industry updates and improvements, was approved by council.
The proposed new bylaw will allow bulk water to be tracked and monitored, and differentiated by domestic and non-domestic use. With water conservation and utility system sustainability in mind, the proposed bylaw would see an increase in bulk water rate from $3.48 a cubic metre to $4.00.
The new bylaw would see a six per cent jump for non-residential rates, with a proposed change to the non-residential premises consumption charge — from the rate of $1.13 per cubic metre to $1.20. With a six per cent increase proposed for both 2013 and 2014, the intent is to align the water conservation rationale established in the residential three-tier rate structure.
Council carried through all three readings to the Supplementary Tax Levy Bylaw, imposing the tax rates set by the annual property tax rate bylaw.
Milner explained that according to the Municipal Government Act, if council passes a bylaw approving the preparation of supplementary assessments — which Cochrane council did Feb. 11 — council must, in the same year, pass a bylaw approving the levy of a Supplementary Property Tax on the property.
With the idea in mind of completing $13 million in capital projects within 62.5 acres of Cochrane’s downtown, council asked town staff to create a Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) Bylaw and Plan.
The plan has budgeted for projects like public space improvements, CPR pedestrian crossings, contributions to the arts centre and a shared parking facility. Of the $13 million in estimated cash flow, $5 million is from the province. All funds generated under the CRL can only be used within CRL boundaries.
There are 10 parcels of land within the boundaries, with a 2013 taxable assessment of $16,828,300, explained Milner.
The top priority in terms of CRL projects is to finish the beautification of public space, including the Centre Avenue Corridor and the connector streets of Bow and Quarry. Because CRL revenue for 2013 is not enough to fund this project, Milner said town staff recommends using a Basic Municipal Transportation grant of $925,440 to fund these requirements.
Milner said this grant would be paid back with future cash flow from CRL.
CRL assessment notices were sent to property owners at the end of January. Milner said she anticipates tax notices to be in the mail no later than May 27. The bylaw was carried through unanimously.
The Community Revitalization Levy Supplementary Property Tax Levy Bylaw was also carried through unanimously.
Councillor Ivan Brooker was absent from the May 13 meeting.
