The municipality is owed over $19 million in unpaid property taxes and penalties from four oil and gas companies.

In an email statement, the RMWB says two of the companies are unable to pay their debts and are working with the municipality.

They combined owe $1 million.

The municipality didn’t name any of the companies.

Councillor Mike Allen tells Mix News the municipality has tried all avenues to get the money.

“These are companies, for the most part, have not produced oil, they went bankrupt at a certain point and it’s difficult to collect blood from a stone.”

The $19 million would go directly into the municipal budget.

The budget has steadily been decreasing as the RMWB looks to get aligned with the province’s 5:1 tax ratio.

Allen says there are some slight concerns regarding the decreasing budget, however, council is determined to make it work.

“Obviously, there’s going to be some change, but what those changes look like will depend on what happens over the next year or two.”

The municipality notes they’re also working with the province to ensure they get ‘tax fairness.’