High River extends tax relief for homes, businesses still recovering from flood

HIGH RIVER, Alta. – The town of High River in southern Alberta is extending tax relief to people who were still displaced from their homes or businesses this year as a result of 2013’s devastating flood.

The relief was first offered in January to those whose properties were severely damaged and couldn’t be occupied for longer than 90 days after the flood hit.

It includes residential, non-residential, municipal and education taxes.

Flooding destroyed several homes and submerged many High River neighbourhoods under metres of water.

A number of businesses in the downtown core have still not reopened.

Residents can apply for the tax relief until next March.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue to offer this program to the community,” Tom Maier, High River’s chief financial officer, said Tuesday.

“Property owners were deeply affected by the 2013 flood and this will provide some essential financial relief to help them rebuild.”