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By CHAT News Today

Meeting with new minister

County wants province to pause review of oil and gas property assessment

Sep 2, 2020 | 4:56 PM

DUNMORE, AB – After meeting with the new municipal affairs minister, Cypress County is asking the province to “press pause” on its review of proposed options for changes to oil and gas property assessment.

County officials, representatives from other municipalities and the Rural Municipalities Association met this week with Tracy Allard.

County officials were encouraged by the opportunity.

“The minister made time to hear from us and understand our concerns,” says Reeve Dan Hamilton in a release. “We know that every county in Alberta is facing similar potential impacts, so we are not alone.”

According to a release from the county, its greatest concern is the impact the proposals will have on local residential and non-residential property taxes, which would have to increase substantially, and services would have to be cut, in order to cope.

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“We know that property tax increases up to 181 per cent and farm property tax increases up to 1,550 per cent are simply unacceptable. People will not have the ability to pay,” says Hamilton. “These proposals put the viability of Cypress County at serious risk.”