Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
At its regular meeting June 9, Peace River town council approved first reading of a bylaw that will help the Town collect property taxes from mobile home park owners.
Peace River administration has had difficulty collecting property taxes from residents of mobile home parks within the municipality. At this juncture, the Town taxes the lands with a levy sent to the trailer park owner, and then a separate levy is sent to each individual resident of the park for taxation of the home and improvements. The levy on the mobile homes has been historically difficult to collect.
“It is somewhat difficult for town administration to track owners of the manufactured homes as they are not registered at land titles like other houses,” explains Mayor Elaine Manzer.
“The assessment of the park is the basis of the park owner’s property tax payments, and the assessment of the manufactured home is the basis of the homeowner’s property tax,” she adds.
The issue collecting mobile home tax in parks is not solely a Peace River issue. Other municipalities have recently adopted bylaws taxing park owners for the total amount of tax owed. Municipalities include St. Paul, High Level, Vegreville, and Viking.
“Park owners through their monthly rent collections are more aware of who is in their parks and any changes that happen with the rental properties,” Manzer explains.
“Approximately, $19,000 was unpaid in 2024 and it then becomes an amount all property tax owners in the town make up.”
The proposed bylaw makes the park owner responsible for paying all residents’ taxes. The park owner would then pass on the bills to manufactured homeowners through rents or other means as determined by the park owners.
The proposed bylaw is allowed through the Municipal Government Act.
“Hopefully, the tax collection is more efficient, and administration and collection costs are minimal,” says Manzer of the changes, adding that council did approve first reading.
“This will come back to council for second and third reading with opportunities for everyone to comment to council.”