Ratepayers discuss tax levies and municipal inspection at meeting
Lindsay Goss photo
President of the Ratepayers Assocation, Bill Kovach moderated the Ratepayers meeting which took place on April 18th at the Blairmore Lions Hall.
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
In a Ratepayers Association meeting that took place on Thursday, April 18th, the committee discussed items including the municipal inspection and the tax levy for 2013.
The meeting was held at the Blairmore Lions Hall and saw an audience of about 75 people.
President of the Ratepayers Association, Bill Kovach said Russell Farmer from Russell Farmer and Associates has already started interviews with members of the community, including the Ratepayers Association.
“We met with him on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.,” said Kovach “It was a very good person. He seemed like an unbiased man and he listened to our concerns.”
“Russell said he doesn’t live in the Pass, he doesn’t pay taxes in the pass, and he doesn’t really care,” said Kovach. “He is completely unbiased.
Kovach said that he has already done a large amount of interviews, including groups and municipal staff members. Farmer currently has an office at MDM in Bellevue.
“The inspection is underway,” said Kovach. “We are getting there.”
Next Kovach discussed the tax levy. “We’ve been attending council meetings since August, and it seems as though Council just woke up,” said Kovach. “When the recommendations came out to raise the mill rate, or to take it out of reserves, we had a councillor step forward and said no way.”
Kovach said that in his opinion, he does not feel that the municipality is in “that bad of shape” with municipal taxes.
“October is quickly approaching, and things will change after that.”
Audience members showed concern on the approved animal control bylaw peace officer fines.
