WHEREAS the RM percentage of property tax arrears is approximately 7.5% of the R.M. taxable revenues; and

WHEREAS there needs to be major changes to the repayment schedules that are set between the ratepayer and the mediation board; and

WHEREAS property values have increased in the last number of years, which provides much more equity for a ratepayer to borrow funds to cover annual property taxes; and

WHEREAS the RM is not in the position of financing property taxes which fall into arrears; and

WHEREAS the RM must have input into repayment schedules from the mediation board, when dealing with habitual ratepayers who are continually allowing property to fall into tax arrears.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to make changes to the existing mediation process to take the burden of collection of property tax arrears off rural municipalities.