Population, taxable property targets proposed for amalgamation in new draft law
Public comments on the draft act accepted until Oct. 7
A draft of the new Municipal Government Act is proposing a population target for towns and cities looking to amalgamate.
The province is suggesting 4,000 people be the minimum population size for a new town, and 15,000 for a new city.
Under the new proposed provincial targets, new towns would also have to have $200-million in taxable property, and a new city would require $750-million.
Minister for Communities, Land and Environment Robert Mitchell said these targets could change after upcoming consultations with councils, which begin Thursday, but he doesn't expect the draft will change drastically.
"Those are numbers that are used in other municipalities all across the country, but flexibility has to be key and we've said all along that we'll be flexible on those targets," said Mitchell.
But he added "The more people you bring to the game, the less dollars will be for the residents."
Kensington mayor says amalgamation fairer option
Kensington's mayor Rowan Caseley said he actually thought the province's target would be higher.
Kensington currently has a population of about 1,500. Caseley believes amalgamation is necessary for his town, and he thinks 4,000 is a reasonable target for growth.
"There's a lot of minimum services that residents of a town expect their municipal governments to provide, and if you're going to provide these services there has to be enough of a level of revenue and support to keep the tax rate at an acceptable level."
Caseley said Kensington has not floated the idea of amalgamation or annexation for years, even though the town serves between 9,000 and 10,000 people. He said the last effort at amalgamation wasn't popular.
"And I understand from the people who are living out in the rural communities they don't want to become part of a town and pay extra taxes, but then again on the other side, the residents of the town shouldn't have to pay extra tax to provide a lot of the services."
Caseley said if Kensington is going to continue maintaining sidewalks and streets, and snow plowing with its existing population base, the municipal tax rate will have to go up substantially, because costs keep rising.
He thinks amalgamation is a fairer option, spreading the costs over more of the people using the services.
Targets not set in stone, according to minister
Mitchell said a draft of the presentations being made to councils will be posted online before Thursday, so people can review the information and submit comments on that as well as the draft legislation.
The legislation is expected to be table in the fall, but the minister believes, if it passes, it could likely take until the end of 2017 before it's proclaimed, after regulations and policies are written.
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