Local Improvements are new or replacement construction projects intended to upgrade or improve certain conditions within residential, commercial and industrial areas of the municipality. Some examples are: street paving, driveway crossings, sidewalk replacement, lane paving, curb and gutter replacement, boulevards and street lighting, and extending sanitary, storm or water systems.
Local improvements are
- initiated by the Town (often as part of a Neighbourhood Renewal Program), or
- based on a landowner request.
In either case, the Town will send a notice to each affected property owner.
These projects are usually considered a greater benefit to a specific neighbourhood rather than the whole community and therefore they are paid for by a tax imposed on the properties affected by the project.
Local Improvement Process
Notice of Local Improvement
Infrastructure and Development staff will prepare a local improvement plan and mail a Notice to construct a Local Improvement to all registered property owners affected by the improvement.
The Notice will include:
- a description of the proposed improvement;
- a description and map of intended improvement area;
- financial details;
- overall estimated cost of the project; and
- annual and overall cost to each registered owner.
Affected registered property owners will have 30 (thirty) days from the date on the Notice to appeal against the project through the petition process.
If a petition is received, Corporate Services will review the petition to determine if it is sufficient or insufficient and notify you of the determination.
Budget and Bylaw
Prior to commencement of the local improvement, a budget and “Local Improvement Tax Bylaw” must be adopted by Council. These authorize the Town to charge a local improvement tax on all affected properties. If the budget and the Local Improvement Tax Bylaw are adopted, the project will proceed.
After Construction
Once construction has been completed, registered property owners affected by the improvement will be notified of the final costs, and the individual assessments for both annual and one-time payment options.
The year following construction completion, the amount provided in the notice will be added to the registered property owner’s property taxes. The registered owner has the option to make a one-time lump sum payment or annual payments over the amortization period.
Preparing a Petition
You will be required to prepare a petition and circulate it to the registered property owners of the affected area if you choose to: initiate, or petition against a local improvement. The petition should include the “Local Improvement Request for Information” form so owners are aware of the potential property tax increase. Information about how to petition can be found on the Government of Alberta website: https://www.alberta.ca/petition-information-for-electors.aspx, or contact the Town’s Corporate Services.
Submit the petition, signed by a minimum 2/3 (two-thirds) of the registered property owners who would be responsible to pay the local improvement tax, to Corporate Services. The registered property owners who sign the petition must represent at least ½ (one-half) of the value of the assessed parcels of land on which the local improvement tax will be imposed.
Corporate Services will review the petition to determine if it is sufficient or insufficient and notify you of the determination.
Information to enable the petition process
The Infrastructure and Development Department will provide you with specific local improvement information using the “Local Improvement Request for Information” form, which will include:
- a description of the proposed improvement;
- a description and map of intended improvement area;
- a list of the properties that will be affected by the improvement; and
- the overall estimated cost of the project.