Total property tax arrears in Moose Jaw declined by almost $180,000 last year compared to 2020 but are still nearly $280,000 more than in 2019, new data shows.
As of Dec. 31, 2021, there were a total of $1,330,481 in outstanding tax arrears that property owners owed city hall, which was composed of $1,160,875 in property tax liens and $169,606 in arrears payment plans.
In comparison, by Dec. 31, 2020, there were $1,510,021 in total outstanding arrears. This included $985,688 in property tax liens and $524,333 in arrears payment plans.
Meanwhile, by Dec. 31, 2019, there were $1,050,698 in total outstanding arrears, including $933,213 in property tax liens and $117,485 in arrears payment plans.
Therefore, the decline in total tax arrears from 2020 to 2021 was $179,540, although 2021’s tax arrears are still higher than 2019’s by $279,783.
It’s positive for the City of Moose Jaw and the community that outstanding tax arrears declined year-over-year, finance director Brian Acker said during the Feb. 28 regular council meeting. As residents pay their taxes, city hall collects that money and uses it to fund various municipal programs.
Property taxes receivable
Property tax receivable consists of tax arrears and taxes owing. Tax arrears are taxes that are overdue, while current taxes are due but have not fallen into arrears. Taxes fall into arrears in the next year following the levy of taxes.
The total amount of receivable property taxes outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2021 was $3,445,147, of which $2,114,666 was current taxes owing and $1,330,481 was arrears.
In comparison, total property taxes receivable that were outstanding in 2020 was $4,769,061, $2,993,362 in 2019, $3,029,255 in 2018 and $2,590,162 in 2017.
Borrowing
As of Dec. 31, 2021, there were five projects that the City of Moose Jaw was still repaying after borrowing money to finance them. The principal outstanding amount on each project included:
- Multiplex long-term loan: $12.91 million
- Sanitary sewer long-term loan: $2.12 million
- Waterworks capital long-term loan: $24.93 million
- Buffalo Pound Water Corporation long-term loan: $10,436,140
- Buffalo Pound Water Corporation long-term loan: $15.6 million
Not included is the $8-million loan that city council approved to complete the high-service pumphouse replacement project. Acker noted that city administration took out the loan early in 2022, so it is not reported on this year-end list.
Data about tax arrears and borrowing were contained in a fourth-quarter financial report that city council received during its Feb. 28 regular meeting. Council voted unanimously to receive and file the document.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 14.
