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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFND-045-20Clarington Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: November 30, 2020 Report Number: FND-045-20 Submitted By: Trevor Pinn, Director of Finance/Treasurer Reviewed By: Andrew C. Allison, CAO By-law Number: 2020-087 File Number: Resolution#: GG-450-20 Report Subject: 2021 Interim Tax Levy Recommendations: 1. That Report FND-045-20 be received; and 2. That the By-law attached to Report FND-045-20, as attachment 1, be approved. Municipality of Clarington Report FND-045-20 Page 2 Report Overview The Municipality of Clarington annually levies an interim tax prior to the approval of the final tax rates to ensure it can meet its financial obligations until the final tax levies are processed. 1. Background 1.1 The Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes a municipality, prior to the adoption of the estimates for the year, to pass a by-law levying amounts on the assessment of property in the local municipality for local municipal purposes. 1.2 Historically, the Municipality has passed an interim tax levy in December of the preceding year to ensure that tax bills are processed in January of the taxation year. 1.3 Interim tax bills are divided into two installments: February 18, 2021 and April 22, 2021. 1.4 If Council were not to pass the interim tax levy, taxes could not be collected until the final tax bills are processed in the spring. This delay could result in a cash flow issue for the Municipality and would result in taxpayers having to pay their final tax bill in two installments rather than the current four (or more if they use pre -authorized payments). 2. Concurrence Not Applicable. 3. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that Council approve the 2021 Interim Tax By-law to ensure that interim tax bills are processed consistent with past timelines and to ensure that tax revenues can be collected throughout the whole 2021 taxation year. Staff Contact: Jessica James, CMRP (A), Taxation Services Manager, 905-623-3379 ext 2609, jjames@clarington.net Attachments: Attachment 1 — Draft By-law for 2021 Interim Tax Levy Interested Parties: There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision. Attachment 1 to FND-045-20 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON BY-LAW 2020- BEING A BY-LAW to authorize an Interim Tax levy for 2021 WHEREAS the Council for the Municipality of Clarington deems it necessary to pass a by-law to levy an Interim Rate for 2021 on the whole of the assessment for each property class in the local municipality as provided for in Section 317 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington is hereby authorized to levy in 2021 on the whole of all taxable assessment on the property according to the last revised assessment roll, a sum not to exceed that which would be produced by applying the prescribed percentage (or 50 per cent if no percentage is otherwise prescribed) of the total amounts billed to each property for all purposes in the previous year on the properties that, in the current year, are in the property class as provided for in Section 317 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended. 2. THAT for the purposes of calculating the total taxes for the previous year under paragraph 1, if any taxes were levied for only part of the previous year because assessment was added to the roll during the year, an amount shall be added equal to the additional taxes that would have been levied if the taxes had been levied for the entire year. 3. THAT the interim tax levy rates shall also apply to any property added to the assessment roll after this by-law is enacted; 4. THAT all taxes levied under the authority of this By-law shall be payable in Canadian funds and shall be divided into two equal installments, the first of said installments to become due and payable on or before the 18th day of February 2021 and the second of said installments to become due and payable on or before the 22nd day of April 2021 and shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington. Upon payment of any applicable fee, and if paid on or before the due date imprinted on the bill, taxes may also be paid at most chartered banks in the Province of Ontario 5. THAT as Section 342(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended provides for alternative installments and due dates in the yearforwhich the taxes are imposed other than those established under clause (4) to allow taxpayers to spread the payment of taxes more evenly over the year. A taxpayer may pay taxes on a 12- month pre -authorized payment plan payable on the first day of each month from December to November. In the event of the default of payment on the pre - authorized payment plan, enrolment in the plan shall be terminated and the interim tax levy shall be due and payable on the installment dates as set out is Section 4 of this by-law. 6. THAT as provided in Section 345 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended if the taxes or any installment levied in accordance with this by-law remain unpaid on the first day of the month following the installment due dates set out in Section 4 of this by-law, a penalty of one and one quarter per cent (1.25%) will be imposed on the amount for taxes due and unpaid. 7. THAT as provided in Section 345(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended any taxes levied pursuant to this by-law that are due and unpaid, interest at the rate of one and one quarter per cent (1.25%) per month (15% per annum) of the unpaid taxes shall be levied on the first day of each calendar month for so long as the taxes remain unpaid. By-law passed in open session this 14" day of December, 2020, and shall come into force on January 1, 2021. Adrian Foster, Mayor June Gallagher, Clerk