A file photo from a previous North Battleford city council meeting at the Don Ross Centre chamber. (photo/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

2025 BUDGET

North Battleford council to vote on tax bylaw changes, including vacant property levy

May 12, 2025 | 1:26 PM

City council is expected to vote Monday night on a suite of tax bylaws that would finalize 2025 property tax rates and introduce new levies for residents and commercial property owners.

The proposed changes follow the city’s approved budget, which includes a 4.27 per cent property tax increase. If passed, a uniform municipal mill rate of 17.69 would apply to all taxable properties, with class-specific mill rate factors adjusting the final tax bill. For example, residential properties would use a factor of 0.3940, while commercial and industrial properties would use 1.2700.

Provincial education tax rates will remain unchanged, with mill rates of 4.27 for residential and 6.37 for commercial and industrial properties.

Homeowners would also see base taxes totaling more than $1,000. A general base tax of $893.36 would apply to residential and condominium properties, with an additional $189.33 set aside for recreation capital projects. Multi-unit dwellings would be charged $189.33 per unit, while commercial and industrial properties would pay an extra 1.59 mills for the same recreation fund.

The city’s infrastructure levy — known as the Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) tax — remains unchanged at $5.06 per frontage foot. The tax supports sidewalk and roadway renewal and is assessed based on lot shape and type.

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The most significant change for business owners would be the introduction of a vacant commercial property levy. The new charge would apply to buildings located along 100th Street, Railway Avenue, and nearby service roads, an area the city designates as its “Key Commercial Corridor.”

Properties that have gone at least two years without a valid business licence or active water utility account as of May 1 would be taxed at 2.4 times the standard commercial rate. The revenue would be set aside for economic development initiatives.

Other changes include a minimum base tax of $446.73 for agricultural and vacant residential land, and a 2.2458 mill levy on businesses in the downtown Business Improvement District.

If the bylaws are approved, tax notices will be mailed by May 16, with payments due June 30. A penalty of 1.8 per cent per month will apply to unpaid amounts starting July 1.

Council is expected to give all five bylaws three readings and adopt them at tonight’s regular meeting, set for 6 p.m. in the Don Ross Centre chamber. The meeting is open to the public in person and via Zoom.

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kenneth.cheung@pattisonmedia.com