The percentage of unpaid taxes in the Town of The Blue Mountains has been shrinking for the past several years.
At its committee of the whole meeting on April 3, The Blue Mountains council received the annual Tax Receivable report detailing just how much of the tax roll is past due.
Manager of Revenue Amy Moore delivered the report and said the town’s rate of tax arrears has been trending in the right direction. Moore said in 2022 tax arrears were 5.02 per cent of the town’s total tax levy. This is down from 5.93 per cent in 2021.
Moore said that the provincial standard is that any amount of arrears below 10 per cent of the levy “is seen as low risk.”
“We’ve been doing a good job,” she said.
Arrears in 2022 were $2,293,529 on a levy of $45,725,962. In 2021, the arrears were $2,561,782 on a levy of $43,164,992. In 2020, the arrears were $3,215,554 on a levy of $41,720,880 (7.71 per cent) and in 2019 the arrears were $3,129,594 on a levy of $39,818,506 (7.86 per cent). The totals include arrears that have accumulated over the past three years.
Moore said if a property remains in arrears for three years, the town can start the tax sale process that would see the town assume ownership of the property and sell it to recover the outstanding taxes. In 2022, Moore said there were two tax sale proceedings started. One property paid in full and the other worked out a payment plan with the town. Both processes were subsequently cancelled by staff as solutions to the problem were found.
In her report, Moore said there are currently 21 properties that the town could proceed with the tax registration process. She said staff continue to reach out to the property owners in an effort to arrange payment to avoid the tax sale route.
Council received the report without comment.
