Staff
Work on the 2014 municipal budget is underway, though it will be a while before it’s passed.
As such, 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 2013.
Interim tax levies are a means to secure revenue to keep operating while council determines the final tax rates for 2014.
Implementing interim tax levies is a common practice each January, and 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. 28, with the balance due by March 31.
In related news, council will receive the preliminary operating and capital budgets for 2014 at tonight’s meeting.
Council is scheduled to start having its regular committee of the whole budget meetings every other Monday, with the first one being Jan. 20.
The council portion of tonight’s meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
The committee of the whole will meet first starting at 5:30 p.m., but be in-camera (behind closed doors) until 6:30.
Other business on tonight’s agenda includes:
•a letter from North Air Services re: Dial-a-Ride agreement;
•a report re: the Ministry of Transportation and the Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation program;
•a report re: 2013 museum membership and donation revenues;
•requests for reconsideration of Minutes of Settlement for properties at 1331 King’s Highway (2013), 1537 King’s Highway (2013), 1243 Idylwild Dr. (2013), 1709 Colonization Rd. W., 525 King’s Highway (2013), 1411 Colonization Rd. W. (2013), and 714 Armit Ave. (2012);
•a Provincial Offences Act (POA) write-off request;
•a request from E. Ward re: placement of a memorial bench on riverfront walkway; and
•a financial request from the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame re: annual membership and fundraising campaign.
