Rhineland Municipal councillors will get a chance to hear what local ratepayers think of their proposed special service by-law for funding recreational services in the municipality. A hearing is set for Wednesday in Altona where Rhineland residents will be able to voice their thoughts on the idea.

The proposed by-law would allow Rhineland to levy a tax on residences in order to pay for the recreational services and facilities that are currently offered. Reeve Don Wiebe says the tax would only apply to residences, not on businesses or farmland.

"As a result of (municipal) amalgamation we now have two arenas, and people right across the municipality use those kinds of facilities. We're looking at that and asking whether it makes sense to assign some of these costs to the sources where they are used, which tends to be people living in residences," said Wiebe.

Under the plan, the new levy would generate $90,000 for recreation in 2017, $95,000 in 2018, $100,000 in 2019 and $105,000 in 2020.

Rhineland staff have fielded a variety of questions from local ratepayers since the idea was floated out into the public.

"There have been questions, so we'll find out at the hearing what kind of reaction will come forward to council. Hopefully people will come out and attend to hear the explanation for it and think about whether or not this makes sense."

The public hearing will be held Wednesday, December 14 at 10 a.m. in the Rhineland Council chambers.