Whereas the Provincial Government has implemented legislation which requires municipalities to have declining discounts each month after the notice of levy is sent; and

Whereas many municipalities mail their notices either in July or August to allow for the early collection of taxes which assists the municipality and the school division with their cash flow; and

Whereas many municipalities offer the same discount for more than one consecutive month; and

Whereas under current legislation if a municipality mails their tax notices prior to September 1st, they will be required to offer a greater discount for each month prior; and

Whereas offering an additional discount will require a greater allowance for discounts expense in municipal budgets; and

Whereas this will require the municipality to raise their mill rate accordingly to make the increased discounts revenue neutral to the RM;

Be It Resolved that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to amend the legislation to give municipal councils the authority to have a discount rate applied equally for more than one consecutive month.

·         Therefore, effective January 1, 2009, section 47 of The Municipalities Regulations is revised to give municipal councils authority to have a discount rate applied equally for more than one consecutive month.