2020 Mill Rates

On May 5th, 2019, Council gave three readings to the 2020 Mill Rate Bylaw. The Town of Edson’s overall taxable assessment has decreased by 2.6%. This is used to generate the taxation revenue and is what drives the mill rate calculations for Municipal taxes, School, and Evergreens Requisitions. In the Emergency Budget, Council decreased the amount of tax revenue to be collected by 5% from the original 2020 budget passed in December 2019. The 5% reduction has been split 20/80 between residential and non-residential respectively.

The Emergency 2020 Municipal Budget decrease has led to a slight increase in residential mill rates and a decrease in non-residential mill rates. An increase in the Evergreens Foundation (10.83%) and a decrease in the Provincial School Requisitions (due to an over levy in 2019 with a later than normal Provincial budget) have led to an overall change in the mill rates as shown below.

2020 Residential Mill rates:

Municipal mill rate – 5.7717 mills (2019 mill rate – 5.6246)
Evergreens Foundation mill rate – 0.4452 mills (2019 mill rate – 0.3911 mills)
School mill rate - 2.5099 mills (2019 mill rate – 2.7143 mills)
2020 Total Combined mill rate – 8.7268 mills (2019 mill rate – 8.73 mills)

2020 Non-residential Mill rates:

Municipal mill rate – 13.0712 mills (2019 mill rate – 13.9309 mills)
Evergreens Foundation mill rate – 0.4452 mills (2019 mill rate – 0.3911 mills)
School mill rate - 3.6006 mills (2019 mill rate –3.9380 mills)
2020 Total Combined mill rate – 17.1170 mills (2019 mill rate – 18.26 mills)

The chart below provides a comparison of the 2019, 2020 (original), and 2020 (actual) combined tax levies per $100,000 in assessment. Individual tax notices will go out in mid-May.

Assessment Practices

Market value assessment has been recognized around the world since the 1970s. It is considered to be the most fair and transparent manner to distribute property taxes.

The market value of residential properties is calculated through a method known as mass appraisal.

Your property assessment notice indicates the Town’s estimate of your property’s market value—the amount it would have sold for in the open market—on July 1 of the previous year. And, it is adjusted for any changes in physical condition recorded by December 31. Provincial legislation establishes these dates and requires that property assessed values be estimated every year.

To ensure assessed values are fair and accurate, they are reviewed at three levels:

• Edson’s internal checks and balances,
• The Alberta government's annual assessment audit process and
• Individual property owners’ review of their notice.

*This is a unique year within the Town of Edson as a new assessor has been named after having utilized the same firm for many years. There have been some large adjustments, both increases and decreases, to bring assessments closer to actual market value.

Your tax bill arrives in May and property tax payments are due by June 30.

Those with concerns regarding assessment are encouraged to contact the Town’s assessor first. If still unsatisfied, please contact the Town Office for details on the appeal process.

Payments and Penalties

NOTICE - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of changes have been made for tax due dates and penalty dates. For 2020 the following dates apply.

• Taxes due – September 30, 2020.

• First penalty run – October 1, 2020

• Second penalty run – November 1, 2020

____

Payment Options: A monthly pre-authorized payment plan by automatic bank withdrawals is available for your convenience. The monthly plan runs from January to December each year. Contact the Finance Department by December 1st of the preceding year to enroll for the following tax year. Lump sum payments may be made at the Civic Centre, internet banking or through the mail by June 30th of the current tax year.

If you have appealed your current year property assessment, payment in full is still required by June 30th to avoid penalty. In the event that your appeal is successful an adjustment will be made and a refund will be issued to you.

Late Payment Penalty: There are three important dates to remember when it comes to tax penalties. On January 1^st and July 1^st any outstanding balance on your tax account is subject to a 6% penalty. On August 1^st a 6% late payment change will be applied to the current year’s taxes.

Market Value

Factors that affect residential market value may include

• Location
• greenspaces
• community services
• commercial properties
• multi-family properties
• waterways
• schools
• trains
• transmission lines
• communications towers
• fire hydrants
• Land Use (zoning)
• Size of home/lot
• Other influences (restrictions, environmental concerns, access, servicing, etc)
• Total finished living area
• Quality of structure
• Age of structure
• Modernization level
• Building type (i.e. duplex, etc.)
• Unit type in condominiums (i.e. townhouse, apartment, basement unit, end unit, penthouse unit, etc.)
• Garage type and size

Questions?

For specific assessment information please contact the Town of Edson Assessor:

Compass Assessment Consultants Inc.
Aaron Steblyk
Phone:  1-800-251-9711
Fax: (780) 466-5406
Assessor email

For all inquiries regarding your property tax and school support contact:

Tax Clerk Phone: (780) 723-4401
Fax: (780) 723-8617
Tax Clerk email