A couple in High River have had their property taxes reduced after they brought an issue to the attention of Town Council.

Sarah and Mark Bruinsma bought the property on 10 Street, south of Highwood High School in July of last year.

It had been assessed at $279,000 in 2015 and 2016 but the assessment jumped to $626,000 in 2017.

That's because, under an annexation agreement signed 15 years ago, the assessment and the tax rate changed from the Foothills MD to the Town of High River after it was sold.

Sarah Bruinsma says their monthly taxes jumped from $138 to $790.

"We went down to the Town and then found out about this annexation agreement that been signed by the previous owner in 2002," she says. "I got a copy of the annexation agreement the previous owner had signed and when the property was sold or subdivided the property taxes would jump to the Town of High River (rates) instead of the MD."

They appealed it to the Town but the assessment appeal board can't address disputes related to tax rates so they had to take it directly to council.

Council agreed to reduce the tax bill by $2,500 this year and will make sure she can come back to council next year to ask for a $1,400 reduction for 2018.

"I'm glad that the town council was supportive of us and understood the situation, she says. "It was obviously something that we didn't foresee and I don't even know if town administration could foresee that happening because this annexation agreement, it really impacted the purchaser rather than the seller."

She's also glad to see the Town is taking steps to make sure in the future when a similar situation arises, home buyers are aware of the tax rate changes before making the purchase.