Morinville best in province for commercial taxes, Sturgeon County worst in the region – CFIB report says

by Morinville News Staff

Morinville was ranked best in the province for tax fairness on small businesses owners in a Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) report released Wednesday morning. Morinville was the only municipality of the 87 Alberta communities in the report that charges equal mill rates for residential and commercial. The same report cites Sturgeon County as the highest in the Capital Region with commercial property owners paying $2.82 for every $1 residential owners pay. The CFIB report goes on to say Edmonton closely follows Sturgeon County at a commercial/residential tax gap of 2.75. Calgary sits at a 3.81 gap between residential and commercial.

The CFIB Property Tax Gap Report shows commercial property owners pay, on average, almost two and a half times more than a residential owner pays, based on the same assessed value of property. The business advocacy organization says their findings come as Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson evaluates draft Municipal Government Act (MGA) regulations.

“Entrepreneurs are fed up with high property taxes. Shifting taxes onto business owners to cover excessive municipal spending is unacceptable,” said Amber Ruddy, Director of Provincial Affairs, Alberta, in the release.

“As candidates gear up for the municipal election, entrepreneurs will be looking at policy platforms to see where their local representatives stand on issues of fundamental property tax fairness. Those running for council should get on the record and let local small business owners know their intentions for addressing commercial versus residential tax mix.”

The CFIB recommends some tax gap reduction measures to municipalities: limiting the scope of government to core services, aligning public sector wages salaries and benefits to their private sector equivalents, and contracting out services where appropriate.

They also call on the province and municipalities to cap commercial-to-residential rates at a maximum of 2:1.

The full report is online at http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/article/9600-alberta-entrepreneurs-deserve-property-tax-fairness-in-2017.html

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8 Comments

  1. This County has got to get their spending under control and move heaven and earth to invite and support business in this County. Small business is the backbone of job creation and economic freedom. We are currently not competive and I intend to change that. Vote for me, for change and for our future on October 16.

    • Isn’t there BILLIONS worth of new business attraction over the last decade in Sturgeon? The tax rate doesn’t appear to be slowing them down from investing and building in the Redwater area of Sturgeon County. Not sure what Morinville’s excuse is. If the tax rate is so good there where is all the development?

      I wish you all the luck in your run for Mayor but I question the scope of your platform. So far all I’m hearing is about your desire to build a rec centre in another community that happens to be close to your home. My tax dollars would be better spent by helping fund improvements to Servus place which is in closer proximity to where the bulk of Sturgeon County residents reside.

    • I find it interesting to see that the majority of people that have responded to this article may have a dog in the hunt for County Council. That said, this report requires ALL the details, not just a select piece as there is always MORE that meets the EYE. The thing that I find interesting here is the comparison of industry vs residents in the Town of Morinville. I would like to know what the financial stability, current and future, is for the Town of Morinville, compared to the County. But the best thing for anyone who reads this would be to join the conversation in the debates that are upcoming. That is usually when the FACTS come out…. Good news story is where the county residential taxes are in comparison…. Just saying

  2. I find it interesting to see that the majority of people that have responded to this article may have a dog in the hunt for County Council. That said, this report requires ALL the details, not just a select piece as there is always MORE that meets the EYE. The thing that I find interesting here is the comparison of industry vs residents in the Town of Morinville. I would like to know what the financial stability, current and future, is for the Town of Morinville, compared to the County. But the best thing for anyone who reads this would be to join the conversation in the debates that are upcoming. That is usually when the FACTS come out…. Good news story is where the county residential taxes are in comparison…. Just saying

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