Local residents in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent are being encouraged to make their voices heard about how the municipality should streamline and modernize its more than 3,000 municipal tax rates.
Municipal officials say Chatham-Kent Council has allocated $100,000 of the Provincial Efficiency Grant towards the Tax System Modernization project.
“The purpose of the Tax System Modernization project is to implement a new tax system and consolidate the tax rates, creating efficiencies in the administration of property taxes, Municipla officials said in a media release.
“The project is revenue neutral, assuming total tax revenue generated will remain unchanged for the municipality. Area rating shifts the tax burden between properties with significant differences in service levels. None of the recommended changes will have an impact on service levels.”
The various rates are holdovers from pre-amalgamation, Municipal officials added.
“During that transition, it was decided to keep information standard; however, the format is outdated and does not currently align with how services are delivered,” Municipal officials say.
Through www.chatham-kent.ca/LetsTalk residents can have their say on issues including the 14 different area-rating charges that currently exist.
“In addition to making tax calculation more efficient, streamlining the process will make it more transparent for property owners,” Municipal officials say.
“The 13-question survey concludes with opportunity for residents to provide general comments. The survey is open until November 8.”
