File photo - Allan Rose at the Medicine Hat Great West Home and Leisure show last month.

By Alex McCuaig

Med Hat Rate Payers

Taxpayer group gaining traction says founding member

Nov 22, 2019 | 4:50 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – The president of a local taxpayer advocacy group says the organization is gaining traction in the community after forming in the last few months.

“People are looking for a change in the city taxes,” said Allan Rose, president of the Medicine Hat Rate Payers Society.

The group held their inaugural meet and greet Thursday night along side the Canadian Taxpayers Federation representatives.

“We got a very good reception and a lot of positive response,” said Rose of the meeting which saw around 30 people attend.

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He acknowledged the recent provincial budget will likely put more stress on the city’s coffers but says Medicine Hat needs to hold the line on any municipal tax increases and, if anything, reduce them if possible.

“We would like a zero tax increase this year and we would like to actually help the city – if they would allow us – to look at how we could reduce the spending so maybe we could do a claw back next year,” said Rose.

The group is currently hoping to present a petition to the city calling on it to reduce spending and lower taxes and will be at the Arcade Plaza Friday nights collecting signatures.

Rose says he hopes to present the petition to council in the next few weeks.