Clarity on Taxation of Conservation Lands
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About the project
In 2002, the Government of Alberta revamped the property taxation regime in Alberta. After flirting with a policy to make all conservation lands tax free, the MLA committee decided to leave it to municipalities to decide if conservation lands would be taxed at full market value, some discount, or not at all.
Fast forward 15 years, and there is still significant confusion among municipalities as to whether that 2002 principle has stood, and what they can do with regard to taxation of various types of conservation lands. There is a mish-mash of perverse tax incentives for development of conservation lands, and the lack of clarity around a municipality’s latitude to strategically vary taxation rates in support of conservation. The revision of the Municipal Government Act is adding complexity to that questions.
Municipalities need a clear and comprehensive resource on what is the current relation between conservation lands and property taxation, how property taxation can be used to promote conservation of lands deemed by the municipality or others to have conservation value, how existing tools can complement taxation approaches, and how policies are unintentionally and negatively affecting those lands.
Organization
This project will be undertaken by
The Miistakis Institute
Project budget
The funds required to compelte this project are estimated to be
$20,000
Proposed timeline
From initiation, this project would be complete within
3 months
If your municipality is interested in funding this project please complete the following form. Please note that submitting this form is not a commitment, it is an expression of interest. After sending, you will be contacted by a Community Convserve person to get more details about your possible commitment, and to answer your questions.
Current supporters of this project
| Municipality $0,000.00 |
Pending |
| Municipality $0,000 |
Pending |
| Remaining to be funded -$20,000 |
|