The County of Stettler has cancelled $30,891.37 in 2026 municipal property taxes on two developed lots in the Heartland Business Park.

Council approved the cancellation Oct. 28 as part of an existing three-year tax exemption agreement with Highway 12 Real Estate Inc.

The decision applies to the municipal portion of the property taxes on Lots 7 and 8 in Block 1 of Plan 2522388.

The two properties cover 1.97 acres and 1.57 acres respectively.

The property owner remains responsible for all other taxes and requisitions, including those for education, housing, waste management, recreation, policing and physician recruitment.

Council initially approved the three-year agreement in September 2025. It provides a 100 per cent exemption from the municipal portion of property taxes in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Administration told council the cancellation must be approved and recorded during each year in which the taxes are levied, despite the earlier multi-year commitment.

Discussion during the meeting indicated 2026 is the first year the completed improvements carry their full assessed value. The properties had little or reduced improvement value while construction was underway.

Coun. Allan Gano moved the 2026 cancellation, which council approved without further debate.

The two lots are in the Heartland Business Park east of Stettler.

Immediately afterward, council gave second and third readings to a separate non-residential tax incentive bylaw.

That program offers three years of municipal tax exemptions on eligible assessment increases from qualifying projects with at least $500,000 in capital costs.

Administration said the bylaw creates a formal application process that can reduce the need to bring individual tax-cancellation requests back to council every year.

The broader program does not apply to projects where another regulator’s approval takes precedence over the county’s authority. The agenda identifies power generation, oil and gas development and confined feeding operations among the excluded project types.