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The Executive Committee will consider a proposed 2025 Property Tax Plan on Monday, April 7, 2025, to address the additional $8,577,515 needed to balance the City's approved operating and capital budgets and reserve allocations. In addition to raising the funds required, the City’s proposed property tax plan is designed to temper the impact of the 2025 revaluation on residential and commercial properties and improve the commercial-to-residential property tax ratio in the City.
Administration has evaluated all available tax tools and made recommendations. The proposed changes include:
1. General Municipal Levy: Increase from 11.307 mills to 13.918 mills to generate the necessary revenue.
2. Snow Management Special Tax for Commercial Tiers:
a. Increase by 1% to cover the approved budget increase of $81,935.
b. Residential and multi-residential special taxes will remain unchanged.
3. Roadways Special Tax for Commercial Tiers:
a. The tax will decrease by 9.5% due to increased assessment values. It will continue to fund the $4.4 million Roadways Recapping, Concrete Sidewalk, Curb, and Median Rehabilitation Program.
b. No changes will apply to residential and multi-residential properties.
4. Base Tax Increase: To support rising operational costs, which include police and fire costs, the base tax will increase by $320 for residential properties and $118 for multi-residential properties. Commercial properties will see increases on a sliding scale.
5. Library Levy: Increase from 0.662 mills to 0.789 mills to support the approved budget for the Prince Albert Public Library.
6. Minimum Tax: Increase by $100 for a total of $900. The vacant residential land tax remains at $1,600, with revenues dedicated to the Vacant Lot Program and unavailable for general budget balancing.
7. Civic Facilities Levy: Increase from 0.47 to 0.516 mills to support the approved budget.
There will be no impact on the following:
- Proactive Policing Special Tax: Remains at $35 per door.
- Destination Marketing Tax: Maintains the existing sliding scale for hotel properties.
Tempering the Impact of Revaluation
When looking at tax tools available, a base tax was once again chosen to address Prince Albert’s unique housing market in a revaluation year.
Raising the mill rate, the conventional tax tool for cities, would have substantially increased taxes on higher-valued properties. A base tax is one approach cities use to reduce the disparity in property taxes between lower and higher-valued homes.
Base Tax addresses the market shift and its dramatic impacts on higher-valued homes in Prince Albert. Higher-valued properties will still pay a larger proportion of taxes this year, as the system is designed, but not to the same extent as a mill rate increase alone.
| 2025 Residential Impact to Properties | |||||
| Assessed Value | $ 106,250 | $ 200,000 | $ 250,000 | $ 350,125 | $ 450,375 |
| Taxable Value | $ 85,000 | $ 160,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 280,100 | $ 360,300 |
| 2024 Taxes | $ 1,737 | $ 2,952 | $ 3,601 | $ 4,899 | $ 6,199 |
| 2025 Taxes | $ 2,084 | $ 3,323 | $ 3,984 | $ 5,308 | $ 6,633 |
| Dollar Increase amount | $ 347 | $ 371 | $ 383 | $ 409 | $ 434 |
| Total per month | $ 28.91 | $ 30.92 | $ 31.95 | $ 34.06 | $ 36.18 |
Correction: The amount in bold was incorrect and has been updated.
Improving the Commercial-to-Residential Ratio
This year, the City has also addressed the commercial-to-residential tax ratio. By changing the tax rate, the city is keeping Prince Albert a competitive market for investment by ensuring commercial properties do not bear an excessive property tax burden. This also helps to manage dramatic swings in property tax values for commercial properties as a result of revaluation.
Funding a Growing City
The increase in spending this year reflects Prince Albert’s growing population and the rising costs of goods and services.
“The 2025 budget is a reflection of what we heard on the doorsteps last year,” said Mayor Bill Powalinsky. “As I stated when this budget was finalized, our residents want to feel safer, desire better services and efficiencies, and wish to see a growing city. This budget and the work ahead in 2025 address these priorities.”
The 2025 budget addresses these three priorities: Feeling Safer, Growing City and Better Services.
The City of Prince Albert's budget includes key investments to support essential services and infrastructure. Some of the key cost drivers in the 2025 Municipal Budget include:
| $ 3,500,000 | City Departments Salaries |
| $ 2,310,285 | Police Service Increase |
| $ 821,817 | Fire Service Increase |
| $ 610,000 | Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre |
| $ 425,000 | Frank J Dunn Pool Decommisioning |
| $ 134,500 | New Boilers at Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse |
| $ 120,000 | Municipal Service Centre Cold Storage |
Property owners can watch for tax notices delivered by mail in May.
To learn more about 2025 property taxes, visit the City website at www.citypa.ca/tax or view the report online at www.citypa.ca/council
For more information, contact:
Mayor Bill Powalinsky
306.953.4300
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