There are 145 properties that have accumulated nearly $1 million in outstanding tax arrears during the past year, so to address the situation, city hall wants to pursue those property titles.
During the April 11 regular council meeting, city council voted unanimously to authorize city administration to make an initial application for those tax titles based on the provisions in the Tax Enforcement Act. This will allow city hall to continue with further tax enforcement proceedings by pursuing outstanding properties with tax liens registered with ISC Land Registry.
The tax enforcement process is an annual activity begun each year against properties with taxes either unpaid or in arrears as of Jan. 1 of the year following the tax levy, Brian Acker, director of finance, explained in his report to council.
The process begins with advertising the list of all properties with arrears greater than 50 per cent of the previous year’s tax levy. If the taxes remain unpaid, city hall registers liens against the advertised properties.
This initial application for titles is for liens placed on properties that fell into arrears last year, he continued. Once all the steps in the enforcement process are completed, the city usually ends up acquiring one to two property titles.
While the number of properties that remain in arrears is 145, the number at this stage of tax enforcement last year was 135, Acker said. Meanwhile, the next step of the tax enforcement process is the initial application for title.
City manager Jim Puffalt later confirmed that it could take two years before the city takes a property title. This usually gives property owners time to pay their outstanding taxes.
According to Acker’s report, 145 properties have outstanding tax arrears totalling $930,362.17 as of March 30.
While most properties owe taxes under $10,000, 15 properties have outstanding tax arrears ranging from $10,267.34 to $67,982.76.
Those 15 properties include:
- 40 Goldenglow Drive: $10,267.34
- 1291 Simcoe Street: $10,483.46
- 1343 Princess Crescent: $12,602.09
- 1684 General Crescent: $14,933.11
- 1049 Simcoe Street: $10,026.44
- 1030 James Street: $10,029.01
- 33 High Street West (the former Trinos Menswear shop): $37,269.69
- 48 River Street West (Goldwave Play Centre): $34,823.16
- 1215 Athabasca Street East (oil depot/design SIGNS/Tax-Break): $12,515.54
- 1105 Athabasca Street East (Buds and Suds Carwash and Grill): $11,433.27
- 1102 Coteau Street West: $45,476.92
- A vacant residential land whose legal description is lots 1-9,11-20 BLK 172 Plan OLD 96: $67,982.76
- 21 Everton Crescent: $12,250.15
- 1195 13th Avenue Southwest: $11,252.18
- 690 Seventh Avenue Southeast, parcel B (Wood Acres Retreat Centre): $42,809.50
The next regular council meeting is Monday, April 25.
