Whereas the Local Government Act regulates municipal actions for the recovery of unpaid property taxes by means of annual municipal tax sale, and sets out the terms to which a property owner may redeem a property sold at the annual tax sale; And whereas Section 6603 of the Local Government Act regulates the amounts that must be collected, for a property owner to redeem a property sold at tax sale: a The upset price of the parcel at the time of the tax sale; b Costs incurred by the purchaser, with relation to the property; c Taxes paid by the purchaser; and d Interest to the date of redemption.; And whereas the Local Government Act currently does not have a system of recovery for administrative costs associated to the annual municipal tax sale; And whereas the tax sale process can be demanding on small rural communities with decreased budget and decreased staff capacity: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to amend the regulations in the Local Government Act, to allow for a system of recovery for administrative costs and other expenses in relation to the annual municipal tax sale.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Section 649 of the Local Government Act allows municipalities to recover an administrative fee for tax sales. The definition of upset price includes the addition of a five percent fee to the total property taxes outstanding current taxes plus interest and penalties at the time of tax sale. That amount is kept by the municipality as a source of revenue to recover the costs of administering the tax sale. The province appreciates that tax sale is a complicated process. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs is preparing expanded guidance for municipalities on the tax sale process and methods to ensure that delinquent property taxes are paid so that fewer properties must proceed to tax sale.