2017 April

Key Tasks in April and May

• If not already done so, prepare and adopt the 2017 operating and capital budgets. 
• May 1
  Deadline for the preparation of the Assessment Roll.  Remember in revaluation years the assessment roll is open for 60 days. 
• May 15
  Deadline for sending out assessment notices, must be done within 15 days of completion of assessment roll.  Remember that in revaluation years assessment notices must be sent to all property owners.  Assessment notices are mailed, but may be faxed or emailed if requested by the assessed owner.
• May 15
  Deadline for publicizing notice of completion of assessment roll in the newspaper and the Saskatchewan Gazette (not a requirement for cities).  Must be done within 15 days of completing the assessment roll.
• Municipalities are encouraged to appoint the board of revision members and secretary early in the year.  In a revaluation year, the board of revision has 120 days from the date the assessment roll is publicized to hear and decide assessment appeals.
• If assessment appeals are received by the municipal office, they should be forwarded to the board of revision secretary immediately to ensure the board can complete its duties within the legislative time frame.

Remember that a detailed legislative and operational calendar is available online at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/municipal-administration/tools-guides-and-resources/municipal-administrator-resources.

Board of Revision – updated manual 
Municipalities must appoint a board of revision each year to hear and decide assessment appeals.

The updated Board of Revision manual is available online at Assessment Appeals Guide For Board of Revision Members in Saskatchewan.  This guide helps board of revision members and secretaries understand their role in the assessment appeal process.

Training for Board of Revision Members and Secretaries
Government Relations is working on a pilot project in webinar training for boards of revision members and secretaries.  A date has not been determined at this time. If your board members and secretaries would be interested in taking part in this training method, please contact Phil Boivin, Municipal Advisor at phil.boivin@gov.sk.ca or by phone at (306) 787-5039.

Assessment Appeal Guide for Saskatchewan Citizens – updated information
Government Relations has updated the Assessment Appeal Guide for Citizens.  Information on the assessment appeal process and the updated guide is available online at: www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/taxes-and-investments/property-taxes/appeal-your-property-assessment#understanding-assessment-appeals.

Municipal Tax Policy
Revaluation may have resulted in tax shifts among the property classes (agriculture, residential and commercial) in your municipality.  In order to remain revenue neutral, council may need to evaluate the municipality’s tax policy.  Rural municipal administrators will also want to review properties subject to the rural dwelling exemption [clause 293(2)(e)], for any shifts caused by the revaluation and change in percentage of values.  For more information on tax policy, go to the Tax Tools Guide for Municipalities page on www.saskatchewan.ca.

Amendments to The Municipalities Regulations

All rural and urban municipalities (excluding cities) will have recently received by email an information bulletin outlining recent amendments to The Municipalities Regulations.  Effective April 1, 2017, these changes contain new criteria for the creation of organized hamlets, villages and resort villages.  The amendments will also bring into force section 52.1 of The Municipalities Act which will require a change in status of certain municipalities that are in non-compliance.  If you have questions about the changes please contact a municipal advisor at muninfo@gov.sk.ca or (306) 787-2680.

The Building Standards and Licensing Branch will be hosting a two-day workshop specific to The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act (the UBAS Act), The Uniform Building and Accessibility Regulations (the UBAS Regulations) and The Building and Accessibility Standards Administration Regulations (the BASA Regulations).  The workshop would be of interest to building owners, industry, municipal officials, building officials, fire inspectors, and other interested code users.  

Before attending this workshop, you should review the Administrative Requirements for use with the NBC 1985; the UBAS Act; the UBAS Regulations; the BASA Regulations; the Building Bylaw Handbook; and the Draft Building Bylaw. 

This free workshop is scheduled for:
      May 8 and 9, 2017 
      8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
      Saskatoon (Location to announced)

To attend, submit your completed registration form (PDF) before Friday, April 21 by either email (building.standards@gov.sk.ca) or by fax (306-798-4172). 

Once you have attended the workshop, you can receive 16 credit hours towards your Building Official Licensing Training (BOLT) program.

The Office of the Provincial Interlocutor for First Nations and Métis Relations provides a bridge to conversation and engagement between the Saskatchewan government and Aboriginal organizations – a bridge that also involves and connects non-Aboriginal stakeholders from across the province. 

Read their brochure Bridge to Conversation and Engagement for more about who they are and what they do.

Community and regional planning is an effective means of addressing economic growth opportunities and challenges. Attracting and maintaining steady investment is key to a community’s success and longevity.

The Ministry of Government Relations’ Community Planning branch, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute, brings you a full day workshop of learning and lunch. This workshop will take you through planning fundamentals that will improve your knowledge in community planning and the available tools to create healthy, thriving, and fiscally responsible communities. This workshop will also discuss regional planning and opportunities to build successful partnerships with nearby communities.

The remaining spring workshops will take place at the following times and locations:

What topics will be discussed?

• Overview of the planning framework that guides growth and development in Saskatchewan including The Planning and Development Act, 2007, The Statements of Provincial Interest Regulations, official community plans and zoning bylaws;
• Subdivisions;
• Management of development on hazard lands;
• Servicing agreements, infrastructure, development levies and asset management; and
• Regional planning.

Register now

For more information, contact the Ministry of Government Relations’ Community Planning branch.

On April 28 each year, both Canada and Saskatchewan recognize the National Day of Mourning  —  a day for employers and employees to remember those who have died as well those who are injured or stricken by illness on the job.  On this day, the Saskatchewan legislature will read the names of those who lost their lives to their work into the Provincial Record.  

We encourage all municipalities to take an active role in promoting health and safety as a vibrant part of their workplace culture. To help commemorate Day of Mourning in your workplace, download this year’s poster from WorkSafe Saskatchewan or to find out the location of the National Day of Mourning event in your area. 

Register your booth today for the 2017 Business Opportunity Expo. 

This event provides your municipality with an opportunity to talk with business suppliers who could meet your goods and services needs. You will have the opportunity to tell them how they can become your next supplier of choice.

Booth participants are invited from executive government, Crown corporations, as well as the municipal, academic, school and health sectors.

The 2017 Business Opportunity Expo is on Tuesday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina. More information is available on SaskTenders.ca.

For 2018, a key change proposed to the education property tax (EPT) system is that EPT collected by municipalities will be paid to the provincial government’s General Revenue Fund through the Ministry of Finance instead of to school divisions starting January 1, 2018.  

This change responds to requests from the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and school divisions to wrap up their involvement in property tax.  This change should have no impact on individual ratepayers.  Legislation to enable this was introduced in the Provincial Legislature in April 2017 and was consulted on in advance in 2016 with municipal and education sector associations.  

More information on the administrative implications for municipalities will be released as work progresses.