The MD of Bonnyville has taken the first step toward setting its 2026 property taxes, with early decisions pointing to increases for farmland owners and modest changes for residential taxpayers.

Council gave first reading to the 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw, which will return for final approval at a future meeting once updated provincial figures are confirmed.

Farmland tax rate set to rise

One of the most notable changes is a proposed increase to the farmland tax rate, which would rise from 5.0 to 8.0 if approved.

While council did not debate the increase in depth during this meeting, the adjustment signals a shift in how taxation is being distributed across property types in the municipality.

Residential taxes increasing through assessment values

The residential tax rate itself is not changing — however, homeowners will still see an increase due to higher property assessments.

Administration provided an example to illustrate the impact:

• a home assessed at $500,000 would see an increase of approximately $57
• this represents about a 4.17 percent increase

This means that while the rate remains steady, rising property values will result in higher overall tax bills for many residents.

New payment option introduced

Alongside the tax rate bylaw, council also introduced a new Tax Installment Payment Plan aimed at giving residents more flexibility.

The proposed plan would allow property owners to:

• split their taxes into six monthly payments
• avoid penalties while enrolled in the program
• pay up until the June 30 deadline

The change comes as the municipality adjusts its tax timeline, with the payment deadline now set for June 30, 2026.

More details still to come

The tax rate bylaw is not yet finalized and will return to council with updated information, including provincial requisitions, which can significantly impact overall tax bills.

Until then, the current figures provide an early look at what residents and landowners can expect heading into the 2026 tax year.