Not only will Okotoks homeowners pay more in property taxes this year, local businesses will too.

Town Council Approved an increase of property tax from 1.38% of the residential tax rate to 1.42%, however two councilors don't agree with the decision.

Councilor Matt Rockley and Mayor Bill Robertson both voted against the increase.

Robertson shares he supported getting to 1.40% eventually, however an increase of even more than that this year is bad timing.

"This year is an awkward year because businesses are struggling," he says. "I think anything we can do to help businesses is well worth it in order to help them stay alive in these dark economic times. I think we're in a bit of a recovery, but it's still not full yet."

He shares a major reason for the increase in property taxes this year was the Provincial Education Requisition, which the town is acting as a collection agency for.

"Some councilors felt that in order to mitigate against that increase we would collect more from business owners to offset the requisition, I disagreed with it. I did support going to 1.4% but I really felt this wasn't the year to try and make up that ground, the province put this on Okotoks taxpayers and there's nothing we can do about that. By charging business owners really they are subsidizing the education portion of the tax."

Robertson adds 1.42% is a higher percentage than he could support at the best of the times, however while he does disagree with the decision, as Mayor, he stands by the will of council.

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