2004 June District Meeting Minutes
Division 5
The meeting of SARM District 5was held in the Travelodge, Saskatoon, Sask., on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 commencing at 9:30 a.m.
Those in attendance were:
• Reeves
• Councilors
• Administrators
• Visitors
Director Murray Purcell called the meeting to order at 9:40 am welcoming everyone and went on to introduce the dignitaries present.
Moved by R.M. # 339 / 281:
That the minutes of the June 25, 2003 meeting, as circulated, be approved.
Carried.
Reports
S.A.R.M. President Neal Hardy spoke on the following topics:
• Education tax on property
June 10, 2004 rally update
- SARM felt the Minister of Government Relations made several inappropriate remarks to the rally SARM is disappointed SUMA chose not to attend and support the rally
- Province has committed 30% of any increased Federal equalization funding towards education property tax relief
- SARM is participating on a committee with the Province to develop a process to reduce education property tax for 2005
- 33% of RM’s are enacting SARM’s discount proposal
- larger health units did not equate to more efficiencies, therefore large school units may not result in any savings nor any property tax relief
• Clearing the Path committee for economic development
- committee has met with various industry groups
- the goal is to minimize economic development impediments by standardizing municipal regulations
• BSE
- SARM is continuing its efforts to have the border opened
• Ducks Unlimited
- SARM opposes Ducks Unlimited’s attempt to bypass the Farmland Security acreage restrictions
• Land assessment
- 2005 assessment revaluation will increase pasture assessment by nearly 40% a percentage of value of 35% is needed to mitigate this disastrous increase
- SARM is skeptical of the new SAMA Board composition
• Doug Watson, RM of Scott #98
- RM #98 education property tax proposal - pay $5,500 per RM resident student rather than remitting a school levy, place the balance of the collected school levy into a trust fund for refund to the appropriate payees
- noted the importance of agricultural income to Provincial revenues education property tax reduces ag. income and therefore diminishes provincial economic development spin off
Hon. Len Taylor, Minister of Government Relations spoke to the meeting noting the following:
• acknowledged Doug Watson’s comments but noted education property tax relief is a complicated issue
• assessment and property tax
- apologized for the off handed remarks he made at the June 10th rally which diverted attention from the real issue
- Province understands there is an inequity with the education property tax process
- the complicated issues and lack of funds is delaying remedial measures but the
Province is committed to resolve the matter and provide education property tax relief on a sustainable basis
- restructuring School Divisions and the Foundation Operating Grant (FOG) should help $130 million in new Provincial funding to Schools over the last 5 years has not reduced education property tax
- 2005 assessment valuation - percentage of value announcement in September, 2004, a shorter revaluation cycle, 2 years rather than 4 years, would reduce shifting
• Municipal infrastructure funding
- Province anticipates increased infrastructure funding for 2005
• Provincial – SARM working relationship
- Municipal – Provincial forum is meeting regularly (SARM, SUMA & Government
Relations)
- consolidated municipal Act to be completed by the fall, 2004
- one Provincial appointee to the SAMA board to come from a R.M.
Comments
• relief for agriculture must be realistic and effective
• seasonal property assessment increase due to revaluation is unfair
• seasonal property owners pay school tax yet cannot run, nor vote, for school boards
Ken Engel, SARM Executive Director, made a presentation on the proposed consolidated Municipal Act.
• one Act for RMs, Towns and Villages, yet recognizing unique differences
- Cities have their own Act
• will grant "natural person’ powers, with limitations, rather than the existing specific permitted items
• will state the purpose of the Act, provide greater flexibility to municipalities and will ensure public accountability
• RM election cycle to remain but may remove the distinction between "burgess" and "elector"
• Other items where changes are being considered
- public meeting process
- referendum process
- public disclosure requirements
- grants vs. loans to organizations and individuals
- tax exemption provisions
• intend to present the Act in the fall, 2004 and become effective for 2006
• the proposed changes can be viewed at the SARM website, www.sarm.ca, in the members only section
Barry Heath, Transport Canada Dangerous Goods:
• SEPA’s role & objectives
• emergency planning video has been sent to all municipal offices
• Emergency Planning Act requires all municipalities to establish a municipal emergency response plan
• JEPP program will provide support & funding for emergency response
Shawn Schmidt, Sask. Power :
• Sask. Power’s 4 priorities
- customer service excellence funding for farmyard line burying
- employee development
- environmental stewardship
- financial management
Comments
• Sask. Power’s reluctance to minimize fire risk and cover the damages associated with fires arising from Sask. Power structures
• 3 phase power connection fees are too high and prohibit rural economic development
Sask. Municipal Hail Director Clayton Hobman noted the following in his address:
• 2003 risk and loss history
• Competitive advantages of Sask. Municipal and Additional Hail Insurance
Committee members Richard Porter and Ed Bobiash updated the meeting on SARM’s economic development initiative
• 2 subcommittees
- Transportation – Richard Porter Chair
- Economic Development – Les Potter Chair
• interim report in the fall, 2004, final report in March, 2005
• facilitate rural economic development by
- identifying impediments in existing municipal policy and making recommendations for improvements
• reported on comments received from various industries
Laurel Pilsner, SARM Director of .Agricultural Policy spoke on the following
• BSE
- 2003-04 history of events
- economic impact
• APF programs
- CAIS amendments
- TISP program
- on farm food safety programs
- water supply expansion program
• Genetically modified products
- Monsanto’s gmo deferral
- other companies continue their testing
• Sask. Crop Insurance
- coverage for unseeded acreage due to excessive moisture
Dr. Garry Bowes, Provincial Noxious Weed coordinator
• weed control initiatives
• importance of weed control record keeping
Terry White, Office of Energy Conservation
• energy efficiencies save money
• can purchase equipment and supplies through Sask. Property Management (SPMC) at reduced costs
• consulting services available from the Office of Energy Conservation
S.A.R.M. Executive Director Ken Engel spoke on the following topics:
• Municipal Fire Reserve fund
• review of overweight permit fees & administration
• heavy haul / high volume road program
S.A.R.M. Vice President David Marit spoke on the following topics:
• SAMA & assessment
- SAMA board restructuring
Provincial appointment of a RM member to the SAMA board process
consider electing rural SAMA Board members at SARM’s fall convention
- opting out provision now needs School Board consent
- pasture land assessment increase - a percentage of value in the range of 35-40% is needed to mitigate the excessive tax shift to pasture land, this is assuming all other percentages of value remain the same
• Federation of Canadian municipalities
- FCM executive
- proposed Federal Government funding
• no resolutions were presented
Moved by R.M. # 280
That this meeting be adjourned.
Carried.
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
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