COVID - 19 Blamed For Tax Arrears Jumping In 2020

It was a favourite issue of former Councillor Brian Swanson and despite his no longer being on Council the problem of growing tax arrears is not likewise going away.

In the City’s most recent Quarterly Report - until the end of September - reveals year over year the growing rate of tax arrears.

Property Tax Arrears as of September 30, 2020 shows major total arrears jump from previous years - source City of Moose Jaw

Administration says the reason for the increase in 2020 from 2019 was the COVID - 19 pandemic. In 2020 Council waived penalties on property tax collection and suspended tax enforcement action until September 30, 2020.

“Overall our arrears and collection of property taxes is slightly behind 2019 levels but considering the pandemic levels we are actually in fairly good shape in terms of that,” finance director Brian Acker told Council’s November 23rd meeting. “We are very pleased with the citizens and their abilities to pay those taxes.”

The last major jump in tax arrears was in 2018 - source City of Moose Jaw