Second meeting needed to pass tax bylaws after long council debate 

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A chart prepared by city staff showing the tax rates between Saskatchewan cities. (Image Credit: City of Prince Albert agenda)

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A base tax works to even out the final tax bill for properties that vary widely by value, using the concept that each property benefits from services like fire and policing and should pay a fairer share. A mill rate is applied to the assessed value of the property.  

According to Laewetz, base taxes put an unfair disadvantage on some people. 

“It disproportionately affects people who are lower middle-class,” he stated. Laewetz and Coun. Dan Brown (Ward 1) voted against the tax bylaw.  

Coun. Blake Edwards (Ward 6) said the opposite, saying a base tax helps spread the load. 

“I do have some concerns and one of them is the base tax and only raising it by $35,” he said.  

“We have a major gap for police and fire—a major gap. Last year we went up significantly. I don’t think $35 is enough because I believe everyone should come very close to paying equally for police and fire.”  

Another issue that the city faces is a lack of properties with a higher value. 

Coun. Stephen Ring (Ward 5) agreed with Edwards the gap is too large between the higher valued homes and those with a lower value.  

“Yes, someone in the lower assessed properties are going to have a higher increase with a higher base tax. I get that but that spread is so big right now that it’s not fair. It’s just not fair,” he said.  

“We don’t have enough high valued properties in this city and that’s why our mill rate is so high, that’s why our tax rate is so high. Our assessments are so low. We need a whole whack of $400,000 assessed properties and that’ll fix the problem.”  

The likely tax bill based on the taxable value of different homes. This is not the same as market value or assessed value. (Image Credit: City of Prince Albert council agenda)

In terms of tax rates, the next highest city is Regina at 9.7288, followed by Moose Jaw (9.6612). The lowest is Swift Current at 5.2637, which also has the highest ratio of commercial tax rate compared to residential.   

Prince Albert lowered the commercial rate last year to help attract more business to the community.  

Special taxes are allowed by the province with the specification the money collected must be spent according to its stated purpose. The city has been using them for about a decade but eliminated the police special tax during their fall budget discussion in 2025.  

The remaining bylaws did not pass on Monday because they did not have unanimous consent to go to third reading, which is required if all three readings are to happen in one meeting. 

On Wednesday, council will vote at a special council meeting on third reading of the three bylaws, where they will pass if the vote remains the same as it did on Monday.  

That means a 2.03 per cent increase to the general municipal levy.  

An increase of $35 to the base tax for residential, multi-residential will increase by $9 and commercial properties will have a base tax increase of 5 per cent.  

The Snow Management Special Tax will rise by $1. 

The Roadways Special Tax will increase by $11 for residential.  

The Police Special Tax was eliminated, saving $35 per door for all residential and commercial properties.  

The Minimum Tax will increase from $900 to $975 but only kicks in for properties whose general municipal levy is below the threshold.  

The Vacant Residential Land minimum tax will remain at $1,600 but that money goes into the Vacant Lot Program and not included in regular budgeting.  

The Library Levy will increase from 0.814 mills to 0.819 mills.  

The Civic Facilities Levey will decrease from 0.522 mills to 0.495 mills.  

Administration was directed to examine how the city collects taxes to find a way to simplify the process if possible.  

That report will come back to council before the budget process starts again this fall.  

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com