By Andrew de Souza

Education tax cut means savings for PA residents

Mar 23, 2011 | 7:15 PM

The province announced it will reduce the education tax mill rate and that means savings for Prince Albert residents.

The average home in Prince Albert can expect to see a smaller tax increase of 4.9 per cent based on the province’s recent budget.

The province announced it would be continuing its trend and said it would reduce education mill rate to 9.51, down from 10.09.

The city said that for an average home, assessed at $110,000 and with a market value of around $180,000 would see approximately $45 in savings from the education tax cut.

Currently, the city is proposing an increase in residential taxes of 3.25 per cent plus a $100 minimum tax for each property meaning that same home would see an increase of $140.

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

A few minutes ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

3h ago

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

21h ago

Coupled together, the average home can expect to see an increase of about $95 or 4.9 per cent.

City manager Robert Cotterill said while the cut in education tax translates to savings for the resident, it doesn’t affect how the city sets it tax rate.

“We do our budgeting strictly on the basis on what we need and what need to go afford,” Cotterill said.

“What this does is allows us to say the public that the impact of our budget may be dramatically reduced by what the province has just done.”

Mayor Scarrow said it was good that the city continues to reduce the tax burden on residents.

“I think the education property tax component has shifted to the city portion being 65 per cent with the province paying 35 per cent, but that’s reversed,” he said.

For more on the provincial budget:

Health Region receives increase from budget

Saskatchewan Advantage, SaskParty tables budget

adesouza@panow.com