Staff
With work on the 2012 municipal budget underway, town council will vote tonight on a bylaw to institute an interim tax levy.
As in previous years, the interim levy is equal to about half of the total amount of taxes property owners paid in 2011.
Interim tax levies are a means to secure revenue to keep operating while council determines the final tax rates for 2012.
Implementing interim tax levies is a common practice each January. It is permissible under the Municipal Act, 2001.
If the bylaw is passed tonight (as expected), interim tax bills will be mailed out shortly.
Fifty percent of the levy will be due and payable by Feb. 29, with the balance due by March 30 (the last working day in that month).
As is normal procedure before the budget is completed, council also will vote tonight to amend a bylaw to authorize temporary borrowing as required until revenues are collected.
And like last year, the agreement for 2012 is with the CIBC to borrow sums not to exceed $4 million.
In related news, council also will receive preliminary 2012 operating and capital budgets at tonight’s meeting.
The public portion of the meeting is scheduled to start at 6:50 p.m.
Other items on the agenda include:
•a recommendation re: a request from the Salvation Army for on-street parking;
•a recommendation re: adjustment to aviation fuel pump prices at the Fort Frances Airport;
•a recommendation re: in-kind services for the Rainy River Arts Collective’s snow sculpture project;
•a report re: a Provincial Offences Act write-off request;
•a report on uncollectable accounts receivable re: customers #10645, #10637, #10555, #4587, and #4564;
•recommendations re: Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship requests;
•a per diem claim for Coun. Sharon Tibbs;
•a report re: municipal lottery licensing in Fort Frances; and
•a bylaw to acknowledge the exercise by SkyPower Ltd. of a right to extend an option term under an option agreement to purchase municipal lands.
