The Town of Rimbey is standing up in support of the County of Ponoka following the proposed changes from the provincial government with the Oil and Gas Assessment Model Review.
Although the Town of Rimbey wont be subject to tax raises from these proposed changes because of their lack of oil and well sites, the Town will feel the impact on funding when the County of Ponoka has to cut back supports.
“It does have a general impact, but not a direct impact,” says Rimbey Mayor Rick Pankiw. However, the “Town is losing donations and support money from the County,” because of these changes.
The province’s review, which was released on July 28, 2020, outlined four scenarios that would reduce the overall assessment values for the energy sector between seven and 20 per cent.
According to County of Ponoka CAO, Charlie Cutforth, the County of Ponoka stand to lose between $1 million and $4.1 million in property taxes. This would also result in a potential tax hike of 34 per cent to 150 per cent for residential and farmland properties in the County.
Pankiw assures that whatever proposal moves forward, that the Town of Rimbey will not see a tax increase of any sort, for reasons mentioned above.
However, Pankiw says that the Town of Rimbey supports the County of Ponoka and other rural municipalities across Alberta, including Wetaskiwin, as they fight the province for a better solution and more reasonable proposals.
“We support the County of Ponoka,” says Pankiw.
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
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