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Mackenzie County offers financial programs to support residents, students, businesses, and community organizations. These include post-secondary bursaries for local students, tax incentives for new or expanding businesses, and annual grant funding for non-profit organizations that contribute to community life across the County. Applications are available from early March until April 30 each year. See below to learn more about each program.Post-Secondary BursariesFinancial assistance is available to eligible students from Mackenzie County pursuing post-secondary education.Bursaries are available to first-time university or college students within two years from their public school graduation date (the public school must be within the Mackenzie Region). Students returning to their second through the fourth year of studies may also apply to receive a bursary. Mature students may also be considered at the discretion of the Council. The student or their immediate family must reside in Mackenzie County.Download the Bursary Application Package below or pick one up at any County Office. Forms are also available at high schools throughout the County.Business IncentivesTax incentives may be available to encourage new businesses and expansion of existing industries within the County.On March 7, 2023, Council approved Bylaw 1288-23, the Mackenzie County Business Incentive Bylaw.The intent of this Bylaw is to reduce taxes for a period of no more than three years, to encourage new business development and expansion within Mackenzie County.Eligible businesses must:Be a Primary or Secondary Industry that is not already operational within in the region;Be an existing Primary or Secondary industry that is expanding to increase manufacturing or processing in the region;Have expansion increase at a minimum of 25% of current floor space, which requires an increase in staffing for operational requirement.Current Mackenzie County Business License;Have all provincial, federal and municipal permits in place;Have no outstanding business property taxes.Non-Profit GrantsCommunity organizations may apply for annual grant funding to support programs, projects, and services that benefit residents.
Mackenzie County offers several convenient ways to pay, including pre-authorized payments, online banking, debit, cash, cheque, and in-person bank payments. Processing times and applicable fees may apply.If you would prefer your utility bills emailed, or want to sign up to have your monthly payments debited from your bank account automatically, fill out on the forms at the payment options links.Payment Options:
For Further Assistance:Call Financial Services780-927-3718
Here's how to read your bills from the County:
Utility Bills
Utility bills can be paid using the Utility Account Number. Some banking institutions do not accept periods (.) in account numbers. If this applies, simply remove the period when entering your account number.
Property Tax Notice
Property taxes can be paid using the Tax Roll Number. If you are paying multiple Tax Roll Numbers under the same Customer Number, you may pay the combined total amount to that Customer Number.
County Invoices
Accounts Receivable invoices can be paid using the customer ID Number.
Property taxes help fund the essential services and infrastructure that support communities across Mackenzie County. Your annual property tax bill is based on your property’s assessed value and three components: the municipal tax rate set by Council, and school and seniors’ lodge requisitions set by external organizations. Mackenzie County collects these taxes and distributes the requisition portions to the Province of Alberta and the Boreal Housing Foundation.
What to look for on your property tax notice
2026 Property Tax Explainer Video
2026 Property Tax Insert
Penalties for Late Payments
Any portion of taxes that remains unpaid after the due date will be subject to the following penalties:
6% for unpaid taxes as of July 5th
9% for unpaid taxes as of September 1st
12% for unpaid taxes as of November 1st
12% for unpaid taxes as of January 1st
If You Don’t Agree with Your Assessment
Compare your Assessment to Similar Properties
The assessment roll, which shows all property values within the municipality, is open for inspection during regular office hours at the Fort Vermilion County Office.
Talk to the Assessor
Compass Assessment Consultants Inc. is available to discuss your assessment. If you wish to speak with the Assessor, you may do so via a video or telephone meeting. To arrange an appointment please contact:
Compass Assessment Consultants Inc.
Aaron Steblyk, Assessor
Email: aaron@compassac.ca
Phone: 1-800-251-9711
File an Appeal
If you are still certain that your assessment does not reflect what your property would likely sell for on the open market, you may file an appeal to the Assessment Review Board.
How to File An Appeal
Your appeal must be filed within 60 days of the Notice of Assessment Date indicated on your Combined Assessment and Property Tax Notice.
An appeal must be filed using the Government of Alberta Assessment Review Board Complaint Form along with the required fee. This form is also available at any County Office.
If the complaint is being filed on behalf of the assessed person or taxpayer by an agent for a fee, or a potential fee, the Assessment Complaints Agent Authorization Form must be completed by the assessed person or taxpayer of the property and must be submitted with this complaint form.
To avoid penalty charges, you must pay your taxes by June 30, 2025, even if you plan to appeal your assessment.
Note: Under the Municipal Government Act, Section 460(6), “there is no right to make a complaint about a tax rate.” This means that you cannot appeal your taxes because you feel that they are too high. You may only appeal the assessment.
Is there a cost to appeal?
Appeals must be accompanied by the appropriate fee as outlined in the Assessment Review Boards Bylaw approved by Council:
Residential – 3 or fewer dwellings/farmland: Up to $50
Residential – 4 or more dwellings: Up to $650
Non‐Residential: Up to $650
Business Tax: Up to $50
Tax Notices (other than business tax): Up to $30
Linear Property – power generation: Flat $650
Linear property – other: Flat $50*
Designated industrial property – major plant/facility: Flat $650
Designated industrial property – other: Flat $50*
Equalized assessment: Flat $650
*Per Designated Industrial Property Assessment Unit Identification
The appeal fee will be refunded if the Assessment Review Board renders a decision in your favor, or you have reached an agreement with the assessor prior to the hearing and signed a Withdrawal to Correction form.
Before filing an appeal…
Review your property information to make sure the description of your property is accurate. This is an important step. If you believe information about your property is not correct, arrange a meeting with the County’s assessor. Discuss any problems that might affect your property’s value (for example, a major structural problem such as a cracked foundation).
Find out if these problems were taken into account when your assessment was prepared. The assessor can re-inspect your property and correct the information if necessary.
You can also compare your assessment with other assessments of similar properties in your neighborhood. Talk with a professional appraiser, assessor, or realtor who can estimate your property’s comparative value in the current market. Remember that the value shown on your assessment notice is based on the estimated value of your property on July 1st in the previous year.
Note: It is your responsibility to contact the County office and check your property record to make sure the details are accurate.
To fill out an appeal, please use the Assessment Review Board Complaint Form.
Where do I send my appeal?
All appeals must be sent to the following address on or before the deadline:
Mackenzie County
Attn: Assessment Review Board
4511-46 Avenue, Box 640,
Fort Vermilion, AB, T0H 1N0
The Government of Alberta has also published a number of resources that contain useful information about property taxation. The following guides are available from the Alberta Government online or at any County office:Government of Alberta: Guide to Property Assessment and Taxation in AlbertaGovernment of Alberta: Filing a Property Assessment Complaint and Preparing for Your HearingGovernment of Alberta: Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program
Finance Department Contacts
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