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Ponoka mayor asks for letter of support from Rimbey town council

Ponoka council plans to withhold education tax
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By Treena Mielke

Rimbey’s town council will have time to consider the pros and cons of the mayor of Ponoka’s plea for a letter of support after that council decided to take some action against the provincial government by withholding the education portion of the town’s property taxes.

At its Tuesday meeting, Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett met with Rimbey council and explained that the town decided to withhold the taxes after they had waited several years for funding to build a new fieldhouse and an aquatics facility at the town’s recreation centre.

Bonnett pointed out that it is not just Ponoka that gets passed over for funding, noting that all rural municipalities suffer from lack of funding while the cities grab the bulk of the dollars.

“We were told we could use MSI funding,” he said, noting that that money works out to about $1.1 million per year and is needed for basic infrastructure needs.

Bonnett said all small community councils need to stand together.

“If we don’t do this we will see the infrastructure dollars disappear. We plan to withhold our education taxes and we are looking for a motion of support in this time of need. The more numbers we get, the stronger we will be.”

Council accepted Bonnett’s request as information.

Mayor Rick Pankiw said the issue will be discussed at a later meeting.

“I wanted to give council time to gather their thoughts. We will discuss it at our next meeting,” he said later.

Pankiw said he is in favour of the letter of support.

“I support it 100 per cent. If rural Alberta does not get together we are going to fall behind. It’s a two-tiered system out there in regards to money and I’m sick and tired of playing second fiddle to the cities.”

However, Coun. Paul Payson, who is a school teacher at Rimbey Christian School, did have some concerns.

“For me it’s very muddled,” he said. “To me the awkward side of it is that’s where my paycheck comes from.”

Bonnett plans to speak to several councils to garner support for Ponoka council’s decision to withhold the school taxes.

At a press conference held in late November Town of Stettler mayor Sean Nollis attended to show his support.