Kirsten Mundy

Standard Editor

The down side for many home-owners is finally an upside in Strathmore, as taxes are going up, but thanks to declining property values the actual approximate 4 per cent increase will only amount to about a 2 per cent increase on most bills.

For Strathmore home-owners the increase might not be much, but regardless, taxes in town went up this year, after town council voted on April 18 at their regular council meeting to approve the mill rate for 2012.

"Education and Wheatland Housing requisition increase along with the municipal increase combined will result in the average residential owner seeing their taxes increase by approximately 4 per cent, if the appraised value remains consistent with last year," explained Mel Tiede, Director of Corporate Services with the Town of Strathmore.

Strathmore Town Council voted to increase the 2012 budget by three per cent already, and to accommodate that increase as well as the non-optional increase of 5.8 per cent from Wheatland Housing and Alberta Education, meant taxes will go up in Strathmore.

He also explained that in Strathmore about 90 per cent of homes saw a small decrease in their appraised value, offsetting the increase by a small amount.

"The average appraised values for residential units decreased by two per sent, effectively demeaning a portion of the increase," said Tiede.

Council passed the bylaw that will see the mill rate in Strathmore jump to 5.617 for residential properties. For non-residential the rate was set at 6.448. The lands annexed from Wheatland County a few years ago will see rates go to 3.694 for residential and 10.531 for farm land. Non-residential lands will be taxed at a rate of 7.589 if they are in the annexed portion of Strathmore.

Take it or leave

it concerns

Although it isn't a matter that council will deal with, they did allow a concerned resident present their thoughts on the state of the Take it or Leave it space at the recycle yard.

Marilyn Galenski explained to council that it is very clear that some people, oftentimes not even local people, are abusing the system. Sometimes, they are going as far as to abuse the people who really need the service.

Council explained that they have directed staff to look into the issue, and staff will find a solution. In the past closing the Take it or Leave it has been discussed, but no statement was made to that effect this time.

Huxted was recently awarded the contract to operate the recycle yard, so it is likely they will be included in the decision of what should be done.

Honouring Meals on Wheels

The April citizen of the month was announced on April 18, and the Meals on Wheels volunteers were honoured.

Councillor John Rempel explained to council that it has been in operation in Strathmore since 1978 and in 2011 provided 2,497 meals to seniors and others in need.

The service is provided for the minimal cost of $6 per meal, up just $2.50 from the cost in 1985. That has been made possible by the many volunteers who assist in operating the service and delivering the meals, and those are the exact people Rempel honoured.