RM McKillop Committee Meeting November 8 2020
Every seat in the hall was taken with over 27 mask-wearing, socially distanced gallery members in attendance.
There were at least six people from unorganized hamlets in the meeting. Committee Chair Gary Dixon addressed the attendees from unorganized hamlets. He acknowledged that unorganized hamlets don’t have a voice and encouraged them to elect representatives to speak on behalf of their ratepayers.
Things started to get heated when the discussion veered off the bylaw enforcement agenda item to the perceived fairness between organized and unorganized hamlets, and each group’s tax burden.
Committee Chair Gary Dixon explained to LMT that by legislation, organized hamlets receive a minimum return of 40% of the municipal portion of taxes up to a maximum of 75% in agreement with the organized hamlet boards. The money goes into an organized hamlet tax levy account. When work in the Hamlet is completed, such as road grading, street lights, insurance on buildings, etc. it is taken from the Hamlet’s tax levy account. Organized hamlets have met a minimum residency requirement to organize, have an elected board, are required to have an Annual General Meeting and submit a Budget to the RM.
On the converse, unorganized hamlets do not receive a return of any tax money. They do not meet the minimum residency requirements to organize, and any work done by the RM comes out of general revenue.
Former Reeve, Howard Arndt, claimed the playing field isn’t level as unorganized hamlets are unfairly paying for services in which the organized hamlet ratepayers are the heaviest users. Howard said the Council’s suggestion of reducing the return from 43 to 40 percent doesn’t level the playing field. He suggested a change in the mill rate would result in fairness.
Dixon acknowledged Council knows there are problems and told the attendees they have been looking for solutions. He encouraged representatives to be elected and encouraged to submit suggestions on how the RM can treat unorganized hamlets fairly. He said for the first time this year, the RM has done dust control in unorganized Hamlet’s and Council is looking at upgrading their boat launches; he said overall, the Council is making an effort.
Leandra Cameron spoke up, saying that despite Council saying they want to run the RM as a whole, it is not. She said because organized hamlets have 43 percent of their money returned, they are overall only contributing 57% to the rest of the RM, and they are the heaviest users of those services. She said that it is not fair, it is not equitable, and it’s not running the RM as a whole but favours organized hamlets.
The gallery exploded into angry complaints regarding the topic and because the discussion was off the agenda. Dixon warned he would end the meeting if the gallery didn’t calm down.
Dixon asked where would the shortfall be made up if the RM gets less than the 57%? When he was on Council, Howard said they had looked at this same question and told Dixon to put up the mill rate so organized hamlets are paying their fair share. A gallery member spoke up, saying that they had already paid their fair share.
After more angry cross-talk Dixon again issued a more stern warning; if the interruptions continued, he would end the meeting.
Dixon reiterated the RM is open to listening to all suggestions and asked for people to please bring them forward. Cameron interrupted, telling Dixon he had just said he wasn’t willing to listen to their solution regarding bylaw enforcement costs.
At this point, Dixon declared the meeting over, saying the meeting didn’t need to be interrupted continually. The other Hamlet Committee members encouraged Dixon to continue with the meeting and move on. Cameron apologized for the interruption.
Dixon said people would be asked to leave if there were further disruptions.
The meeting continued without significant interruption before adjourning at noon.
Jennifer Argue, Civic Reporter, LMT - LJi