Finance

Responsible for all financial matters pertaining to the Municipal District of Spirit River, Director of Corporate Services Elena Valdes along with the auditor and the finance department ensure that financial statements are in compliance with legislation and report to Council and the Province.

Other responsibilities include:

  • Managing capital and operational budgets
  • Taxation and assessment
  • Cash receipting
  • Accounts payable/Accounts receivable
  • Investment management
  • Monitoring of fixed assets
  • Property/liability insurance coverage
  • Supporting other departments

Financial Statements 

Financial Operating Budgets

The MD or Spirit River’s annual budget details the services, programs, and infrastructure we offer to residents and businesses. This budget is carefully developed to provide a high quality of life at an affordable cost for residents and to provide an ideal location for businesses.

Current budget

Our annual budget consists of an operating and a capital budget. The operating budget plans for the day-to-day costs of providing services to residents and businesses. The capital budget plans for the purchase of municipal assets and infrastructure.

Through the budgeting process, we identify the source of funding to cover these costs. These funding sources include property taxes, service fees, government grants, and financial reserves.

Budget process

Developing the budget is a two-stage process. First, an interim budget is approved in December to provide a general plan for services, programs, infrastructure, and related costs.

Once the Government of Alberta releases its budget – typically in March – The MD or Spirit River can confirm information about available grant funding and make any necessary adjustments to its interim budget. A final budget is typically set in late April, at which time the tax rates are also determined.

Shortly after the tax rates are set and the final budget is approved, residents and businesses will receive their tax notices.

Taxation & Assessment

Property Tax Payment Options

  • eGov Online Services Portal
  • Payment at your normal Financial Institution (please specify MD of Spirit River to the teller)
  • Online banking through ATB Financial
  • E-transfer
  • In Office: 4202 - 50th Street, Spirit River, during regular hours

*Payments in cash, cheque, money order and debit cards are accepted*

Tax Installment Plan 

MD residents and landowners may apply to enter into a Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) Agreement with the Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133. Taxes payable under the TIPP Agreement shall be collected from January to December of the current year, with the tax account balance to be paid in full by December 31st of the current tax year. If you are interested in applying or would like further information, please contact the MD office at 780-864-3500 or mdsr133@mdspiritriver.ab.ca.

Assessment Complaints 

Anyone wishing to object to the assessment value on any property in their name must, by the date specified on their tax notice, lodge a complaint using the Assessment Review Board Complaint Form. This Form must be mailed to the Assessment Review Board Clerk, Monty Bremont:

Box 389, 4202 – 50th St. Spirit River, AB T0H 3G0

The complaint must be accompanied by a fee as outlined below:

Residential (3 or fewer dwellings): $50.00

Farmland: $50.00

Residential (4 or more dwellings): $650.00

Non-residential: $650.00

The fee will be refunded to the complainant if the complaint is successful. A copy of Filing a Property Assessment Complaint and Preparing for your Hearing booklet as well as a Guide to Property Assessment and Taxation in Alberta can be obtained at the Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 office.

What to Know About Overdue Property Taxes

Important Dates: 

Assessment and tax notices are mailed out at the end of May and are due on September 16th annually. All assessments and tax notices are deemed to have been received seven (7) days after mailing within Alberta and fourteen (14) days outside of the province.

A 2% penalty will be applied on any outstanding taxes on October 15th, November 15th and December 15th of the tax year. A 10% penalty will be applied on January 15th of the following year.

What happens if you don’t pay your property taxes?

If you miss the deadline to pay your property taxes, your municipality will likely charge a penalty on the unpaid amount. The penalty amount depends on local bylaws.

The MD of Spirit River’s tax penalty bylaw can be found on their website at mdspiritriver.ab.ca. Go to Departments, then Taxes & Assessments, then scroll to bottom of page to Unpaid Taxes and click on the PDF titled Bylaw 2-2000: Penalties on Unpaid Property Taxes.

Should the tax obligations and accrued penalties remain unmet for a certain period, the municipality can take steps to collect the money. This process could eventually lead to your property being sold at a public auction to recover what's owed.

How the municipality collects unpaid taxes depends on what the taxes are for:

  • Land and homes follow one process (including public auction).
  • Manufactured homes or non-land taxes (like well drilling equipment) follow slightly different rules.
  • In rare cases, such as with pipelines or utility infrastructure, the municipality may apply a special lien to protect its claim ahead of other creditors.

What’s the difference between “unpaid taxes” and “taxes in arrears”?

  • Unpaid taxes: Any amount not paid by your municipality’s payment deadline (e.g. Sept 16).

Taxes in arrears: If your taxes and penalties still aren’t paid by December 31 of the same year, they officially become “in arrears”, which means they now fall under stricter recovery laws — including the possibility of a public auction.