Tax hike coming in Lake Country

Property owners in Lake Country can expect a 2021 municipal tax hike of between two and 3.5%.

That’s the range suggested by town staff for town council’s consideration at a budget meeting on Tuesday.

Much of the proposed increase relates to a previous decision by council to add five RCMP members to the Lake Country detachment.

A 2% tax hike would net the municipality almost $300,000 more in revenue this year than in 2020. The town also expects to collect an equivalent amount from the owners of homes and other buildings that were built in the past year.

Two new municipal staff positions are proposed, a business analyst and a parks and facilities manager, with a combined budget expense of $250,000.

A 2% tax hike keeps municipal services and programs in Lake Country at about the same level, finance director Tanya Garost said.

Optional items, which would raise taxes beyond 2%, include a new parks and recreation master plan, a new grants program for community programs and a traffic-calming initiative.

From 2013 through 2020, municipal taxes in Lake Country increased 30 per cent and a new annual parcel tax of for transportation projects of $125 was introduced.

For 2021, if a 2% tax hike is approved, Lake Country would draw $15.3 million from local property owners, up from $9 million in 2013. While that’s a total increase of about 66%, it reflects new tax contributions provided each year by the owner of recently built properties.