By Jaryn Vecchio
May 11, 2021 | 9:06 PM
There’s a chance you may be paying a bit more in property taxes this year.
Wood Buffalo council met virtually on Tuesday where they set the tax rates for homes, businesses, and other properties in the urban and rural areas.
Residential properties in Fort McMurray, on average, are set to see a six per cent decrease in the municipal tax, however, the education tax is set to rise by around seven per cent.
Overall, the average home will see a one per cent rise from 2020.
The education tax, which the municipality collects on behalf of the province, is seeing a big rise as not enough was brought in back in 2019.
Author of the article: Laura Beamish
Publishing date: Apr 28, 2021 • 1 hour ago • 3 minute read • An aerial view of downtown Fort McMurray Alta. on Thursday May 4, 2017. Robert Murray/Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1705091801201923 ORG XMIT: POS1911261608136748 ORG XMIT: POS1912102159006909 ORG XMIT: POS2006082048329404 ORG XMIT: POS2010271755234331 ORG XMIT: POS2101261151409012 Photo by Robert Murray /Robert Murray/Today Staff
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Council voted 6-4 to ask administration to relaunch consultations with residents for the proposed new Land Use Bylaw. An updated proposed bylaw will be heard by the next council after the October election.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council heard from many people with concerns about the bylaw and felt they had not been consulted. The longest discussion was with former Opposition Leader Brian Jean, who is trying to open a wedding and event space in Draper.
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Deputy CAO Matthew Hough said the municipality will review its flood preparedness work after river breakup to cut down on inconveniences and improve future plans.
The municipality is spending $10 million on flood preparedness this year. This includes temporary clay berms, triple dams and portable retaining walls, and a sandbag program. Crews are closing three storm outfalls leading to the river from Longboat Landing, watertight manhole covers and underground passages to control water flow. Pumping equipment is on standby.
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Try refreshing your browser. Municipality reviewing flood preparedness actions following river breakup Back to video
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Council unanimously approved the second phase of a revitalization grant program that matches at least half of structural improvements on downtown businesses.
Administration proposed matching all grant opportunities beautifications, murals, and improvements to interiors, patios and premises be matched by 50 per cent as they were in phase one.
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Try refreshing your browser. Council approves next phase of downtown revitalization grants, Scott proposes economic relief programs Back to video
Councilor Krista Balsom successfully boosted this amount to 75 per cent for approved patios and murals by local artists. This would be retroactive to patio grants approved in phase one. Balsom argued downtown businesses, especially restaurants, were struggling before COVID-19. The pandemic and last year’s flooding worsened things.
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