Local Improvement Process

Local improvements are governed by the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and must follow a very specific process. 

Per Section 393 of the MGA, a local improvement may be proposed either by a municipal council or by a group of property owners within the municipality. Once a local improvement has been proposed, a plan must be prepared by the municipality and distributed to all municipal residents who would be liable to pay the local improvement tax. This plan must include:

• A description of the local improvement and its location;
• A list of properties on which the tax will be imposed;
• Details on how the tax rate will be determined (either based on assessment, a per parcel basis, a per frontage basis, or an area basis);
• An estimated cost for the improvement, and the period of time over which this cost will be paid;
• A breakdown of funding sources for the improvement; and 
• Any other information considered necessary by the proponents.

Once a local improvement has been proposed and the plan has been prepared and distributed, a petition either for or against the local improvement may be filed with the CAO within thirty (30) days. This petition must:

• Be signed by at least 2/3 of the property owners who would be liable to pay the local improvement tax;
• Must represent at least 50% of the assessed value of the local improvement area; and
• Must be declared valid by the CAO in accordance with the MGA.

If a valid petition is received in support of the project, Council may then proceed with authorizing the plan, tendering the construction process, and, ultimately, passing a local improvement tax bylaw for the approved project.