Supplementary tax notices due at end of month

Taxes are nearly due for Airdrie residents who have completed or moved into a new home or commercial building since the beginning of the year.

The City of Airdrie mailed out its supplementary property assessment and tax notices on July 30 and the monies are due Aug. 31.

According to the City’s Manager of Assessment, Taxation and Utilities Suzette DeMott, owners of new residential or commercial buildings will only be charged for the value that has been added to their properties since the beginning of the year.

“What we do is put a new total value on the property, less what the annual amount was,” she said.

“(The number) is based on the number of months completed. If they move in March 1, that (building) would be completed for 10 months a year, so they will be pro-rated (for that amount).”

Airdrie’s annual tax notices were mailed at the end of May, with payment due by the end of June.

This year’s tax rate, which was approved by Airdrie City council on May 7, was set at 2.74 per cent.

Owner of the average Airdrie home, which is valued at $330,400, will pay $36.01 more in taxes this year.

According to DeMott, for every $1,000 in assessed value, owners of residential properties will pay about 6.64 per cent in taxes, with about 4.32 per cent going to the municipality and the rest sent to the Province for school requisitions.

DeMott said late payment of taxes will result in a nine per cent penalty being charged.

She added the City encourages residents to sign up for the municipality’s monthly tax payment plan.

“What it does is spread your payments out over the course of the year and comes out of your bank account at the end of the month, so basically you don’t have to worry about your taxes,” said DeMott.

About 51 per cent of Airdronians pay their taxes through the monthly plan, with another 14 per cent submitting their fees along with their mortgage payments, according to DeMott. She said it is important for those who have moved into a new home or commercial building but have not received their supplementary property assessment and tax notice to call the City’s tax department at 403-948-8856.

Several payment options exist including mailing the payment to 202, 400 Main Street S.E., Airdrie, AB T4B 3G8; remitting the fees in person at City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or placing the payment in the after hours drop box located at City Hall, Public Works and Emergency Services buildings; at financial institutions; or through the City’s monthly automatic withdrawal payment plan.