NORTH BATTLEFORD — An unexpected $179,213 increase in the City of North Battleford's municipal revenue sharing grant has led to a slight reduction in previously approved 2023 property taxes.
A press release from the city notes that although the previous taxation rate was approved to be 5.99 per cent in December 2022, after the May 8 council meeting, council agreed to reduce the tax rate to 5.34 per cent following a presentation from administration offering several scenarios for disbursement of the extra funds.
The tax reduction was chosen while also ensuring the availability of $100,000 to cover costs to fix signal and light poles on Territorial Drive and an additional $25,000 toward the cost of a backup generator for the airport runway, pending approval of the city's $25,000 Community Airport Partnership grant application.
"The 2023 average taxable value of a residential property with 50 feet of frontage is $153,120, and based on that value, it would cost $948.46 in municipal tax, a $54.24 per year increase from 2022," reads the release.
"The net increase in taxes and levies in 2023 will be an average of $130.83, equal to a $10.90 increase per month from 2022 and the total increase on municipal levies, including UPAR, is 5.15% for residential properties in North Battleford."
The city council approved a 16.7 per cent 2023 UPAR increase in December. The 2023 UPAR Rate Bylaw remains unchanged after the May 8 council meeting.
Residents can expect their tax notices for 2023 to be mailed out by no later than May 31. The intended deadline to pay 2023 property taxes is June 30.