MUNICIPALITY OF VAL-DES-MONTS 1 ROUTE DU CARREFOUR, VAL-DES-MONTS, QUEBEC J8N 4E9 TELEPHONE: 819-457-9400 – FAX: 819-457-4141 www.val-des-monts.net PRESS RELEASE NE W P R OG R AM F OR E MP T Y ING S E P T IC S Y S T E MS AND S E P T IC HO L DING T ANK S A T IS O L A T E D R E S IDE NC E S ON V A L -DE S -MONT S ’ T E R R IT OR Y : AN F A Q We’ve received a number of questions from our taxpayers about this program. Below are the answers to those asked most often: Q.1 Why does my tax bill include a $75 charge for emptying the septic tank at what is simply my cottage and not a year-long residence? A.1 Article 6 of By-law 749-13 on the emptying of septic systems and holding tanks at isolated residences on Val-des-Monts’ territory says the following (English translation provided strictly as a courtesy; the French version takes precedence in case of discrepancies): ‘’The septic systems and holding tanks of isolated residences on the Municipality’s territory must be emptied and inspected as follows : a) for permanent residences lived in year round (code 1000 as of January 1 of the current year on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll), once every two years; b) for secondary residences such as cottages and vacation properties (code 1100 as of January 1 of the current year on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll), every four years. This must also be done in compliance with article 13 of the by-law governing wastewater removal and treatment at isolated residences (R.R.Q., Q-2, r.22) and with MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais’ electronic land-use list. This by-law includes mobile homes (codes 1211 and 1212 on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll) and farms that have an isolated residence (code 8100 on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll). This by-law excludes septic systems for buildings that do NOT match its definition of an isolated residence.’’ To summarize, if your property comes under code 1000 on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll, your septic system will be emptied every two years, and a charge of $75 will be added to your tax bill. Q.2 Why is my property coded 1000 on the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais tax roll when it’s actually my secondary residence? A.2 Code 1000 refers to buildings with living quarters that are used or that can be used year round. Code 1100 (cottages or vacation properties) refers to buildings that can be used only seasonally because of their structural features (no foundation, no insulation, etc.). Q.3 Why am I being charged $75 in 2014 even though my septic system or holding tank won’t be emptied until 2015? A.3 The actual cost for emptying your system or holding tank is $150 and, under By-law 753-13, the fee is applied over two years, hence the $75 installment this year. Q.4 Why does my tax bill include three entries indicating a $75 charge in the Taxe R column? Does this mean you’re billing me three times for emptying my septic system? A.4 No. The amounts in the Taxe R column on your bill refer to two services: 1) the $75 charge for the new septic system program and 2) the $150 charge for collecting waste and recyclables. The total of $225 is collected in three equal installments of $75, as required by By-law 753-13. Page 1 Q.5 What happens if I don’t pay, or pay only half of, the $75 charge? A.5 If you fail to pay your total bill by the deadline, the following interest charges and penalties are added to your account, as provided by these two by-laws: 751-13: A maximum 0.5% on the unpaid principal for each full month in arrears, up to a maximum of 5% a year, is added to your unpaid municipal taxes. 752-13: This by-law, which deals with a variable-rate property-tax system, states as follows (English translation provided strictly as a courtesy; the French version takes precedence in case of discrepancies): 1. When municipal tax debtors comply with the payment deadlines set out in this by-law, no interest or penalties are applied. 2. If an installment is not made by the deadlines set out in this by-law, only the amount of the overdue installment is required, not the entire tax-account balance; the overdue amount carries interest and penalties at the rate set out by Council. Q.6 Can I arrange to pay my account over a greater number of installments without incurring interest charges? A.6 The Municipal Code of Québec is categorical on this issue. The following is the official English-language translation of Article 1006 of the Code: ‘’The Secretary-treasurer must enter on the general collection roll and collect all municipal taxes payable in or converted into money, ordinarily collected by other municipal officers, and due or payable either to the Municipality or to its officers, by persons occupying taxable immovable property in the territory of the Municipality, provided that a statement certified and attested under special oath, be transmitted to the office of the Municipality before the making of the general collection roll.’’ You can pay the amount due in more than three installments, but in so doing, you incur the applicable late-payment interest charges. Q.7 Can the Municipality cancel the contract for emptying, transporting and discarding the sludge from septic systems and holding tanks? A.7 After studying the submissions received through a public call for tenders, the Municipality of Val-des-Monts, under motion 13-10-374, accepted Beauregard Fosses Septiques Ltée’s (18160, J.-A. Bombardier, Mirabel, Québec) proposal to empty, transport and discard the sludge from septic systems and holding tanks from 2014 to 2017. The Municipality cannot cancel the contract, because the company hasn’t breached any of its terms. – 30 – Sources: Stéphanie Giroux Director of Finance Service Municipality of Val-des-Monts André Turcotte Director of Environment and Urban Planning Service Municipality of Val-des-Monts Page 2