Proposals favour large oil and gas – have devastating effect on rural municipalities.
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, representatives from the County of Stettler, Municipal District of
Provost, Paintearth County, Special Areas Board, Starland County, and representatives from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) met with Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, to
lobby against the proposed changes to Oil and Gas Assessment announced by the Province of Alberta. On July 30, Council members and Administration attended a protest of the proposed changes at the Alberta Legislature. Proposed assessment changes would reduce property taxes for large oil and gas companies (assets over 500 Million), shifting the tax burden from industry to County residents, commercial properties, and local businesses.
Four assessment scenarios proposed by the Province would result in a very significant tax
revenue loss for our County, ranging from $3 million-$4 million in the first year. For the County
of Stettler to recoup a loss of this magnitude, drastic cuts to services, extreme tax increases,
and service fee escalations would all have to be considered. Support traditionally given to local municipalities, recreation facilities, and community groups would all be in jeopardy.
Proposed assessment changes will impact every ratepayers, residents, and businesses within
our County.
____________
See also:
Ryan Jesperson Show: Rural Municipalities impacted by reduction of property taxes.
https://omny.fm/shows/ryan-jespersen-show/rural-municipalities-impacted-by-reduction-of-
prop
CBC News: 'It's going to hurt': Tax break for oil and gas firms would drain rural budgets,
communities warn.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oil-and-gas-taxes-municipalities-tax-relief-
industry-1.5667230
____________
“The County of Stettler fully supports the oil and gas industry and a review but the proposed solution does not match the problem. Large oil and gas companies are set to benefit from the four scenarios presented with no guarantees money will be reinvested in Alberta. Struggling small to mid-sized oil and gas companies – the ones that live, work and support our communities, may actually see tax increases if any of these proposals are pushed through. The four scenarios being considered would be disastrous for our communities and for our rural way of life.” Larry Clarke, County of Stettler Reeve
Every rural municipality in the province will be impacted by these changes, the majority will be left with the same severe impacts, budget struggles and questions of continued viability.
The County of Stettler wrote off $4.5 million last year in bad debts, mainly from oil and gas. So
far in 2020, the County has written off another $2.7 million.
“We asked the Minister of Municipal Affairs to assist us over a year ago, when suddenly our ability to collect on bad debts from oil and gas was taken away – and we gave them possible solutions. We have still received no solution or assistance from our government, and yet they are chipping – or digging – away at County revenue’s further, not actually assisting the companies struggling to survive. To put things in perspective, this proposal gives oil and gas companies with $500 million in assets a tax cut on the backs of a rural municipality with an operating budget of $24 million.”
The County of Stettler strongly objects to the lack of consultation with affected municipalities,
and with the review process undertaken by the Province, which included members of the
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) being present on the review committee.
“Inviting industry to the table to lead a review on taxation is a very slippery slope. Will our government next be inviting utility companies and urban developers to lead review on urban taxation? While all stakeholders deserve and have the right to equal and accessible consultation, CAPP only represents 4% of oil and gas industry in Alberta. So it seems disproportionate that a special interest group was provided the opportunity to lead a government review process, and even present one of the four scenarios?”
“We urge all of our residents, ratepayers, partners, businesses and neighbouring communities to speak out about the proposed changes. It will effect every one of us. This decision is set to be made in the next few weeks—and then it will be virtually impossible to reverse,” added Reeve Clarke. These tax changes are set to be pushed through via ‘regulation’, which means there would be no debate.
Premier Jason Kenney
307 Legislature Building, 10800-97 Avenue NW,
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6
Email: premier@gov.ab.ca
Nate Horner, MLA Drumheller-Stettler
Box 1929 Bay 400, 300 South Railway Avenue East
Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0
County of Stettler Council will continue to engage with the Province and work with the RMA
(Rural Municipalities of Alberta) to advocate on your behalf. Please follow our website for
updates on this issue, and call your area Councillor if you have questions about these changes.
For more information go to www.StettlerCounty.ca
County of Stettler No. 6
Box 1270
6602 – 44 Avenue
Stettler, Alberta T0C 2L0
T:403.742.4441 F: 403.742.1277
County of Stettler Press Release August 5, 2020 @ 5:07 PM
Comments