Photo: A large campground development asked to have property taxes it paid to be refunded by the County of Stettler. The discussion was held at the Oct. 8 regular meeting of council. Rural Alberta Report/Screenshot

A large campground development asked to have property taxes it paid to be refunded by the County of Stettler. The discussion was held at the Oct. 8 regular meeting of council.

Bar W RV Resort, located in the Buffalo Lake area and represented by spokesperson Keith Wilson, presented its case for repayment of a substantial amount of property taxes that it appeared were already paid to the municipality.

Coun. Justin Stevens began the discussion by giving Wilson the option to discuss the topic in closed session, that is, in private. However, the presentation then proceeded publicly.

Wilson presented a chart showing Bar W’s property taxes paid since 2019 and which noted Bar W has been part of a business program through the county that reduces property tax bills by 100 per cent and 80 per cent depending on how long the development has been up and running.

In Wilson’s presentation Bar W requested $70,785 in property taxes be refunded to the development which it described on a document presented in the meeting as “overpayment to date.”

It appeared according to documents presented during the council meeting and comments made that Bar W was claiming that even though the campground had been in operation it was not operating at full capacity. It also appeared Bar W claimed delays in the development process prevented the campground from operating even though it was being assessed and taxed at a higher rate over that time.

Wilson clarified in his presentation that Bar W felt its tax bill was hiked even though the developer was waiting for a development decision and unable to operate.

Although it was somewhat unclear, a statement made during the meeting claimed that this assessment change, from agriculture to campground-related, occurred in 2020. Staff added that the change was made because top soil from the development in question was removed and by law the land couldn’t be assessed and taxed as agricultural if no top soil remained.

During discussion, councillors and staff pointed out that some tax billing to Bar W was unavoidable, including provincial government school tax and housing authority requisition; it was pointed out even if the county offers a program that waives 100 per cent property taxes, provincial requisitions still have to be paid. Again, although it was somewhat unclear during the presentation, it was noted that Bar W’s requisitions charges would have been around $20,000 per year.

As councillors discussed Bar W’s request it was pointed out councillors have the authority to waive any or all of the municipal portion of a property tax bill.

As Wilson continued his presentation he stated the campground was really only open for full business in spring of 2024.

As his presentation continued it appeared that Wilson felt that Bar W’s tax forgiveness program began too soon, that years within that program included some the campground wasn’t in operation and that Bar W may be asked to pay its full property tax bill even though the resort hasn’t been operating at full capacity.

At about the 57 minute point in the council meeting councillors elected to move “in camera,” which is the private portion of the council meeting where the public isn’t allowed.

At about the one hour, 28 minute point councillors moved back into the public meeting and at that point approved a motion to accept Bar W’s presentation as information.