Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

Municipal Politics

County of Grande Prairie owed tax money by energy companies

Mar 25, 2019 | 5:30 AM

The County of Grande Prairie is among the municipalities owed unpaid taxes by energy companies.

Reeve Leanne Beaupre says the County estimates it comes to around $362,000 for taxes on things like pipelines and another $100.000 for machinery and equipment.

She says she knows some companies are struggling, but others continue to operate without paying their tax bills.

“So, the government needs to take some of that responsibility. They’re the ones that regulate oil and gas, so they need to go back to them and say ‘You can’t operate without having paid your taxes.’ They should show that they are in good standing just like everyone else.”

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Beaupre adds the County still has to pay the education portion of the above tax totals, even if the bills remain unpaid. She adds every little bit helps when it comes time to finalize this year’s budget.

“It’s always one of those things. We have to wait and find out what’s happening with some of this linear, some of the requisition that we get from the province, as well as the final accounting the province does with regards to linear taxes, machinery and equipment, things like that, before we finalize our budget.”

This is one of many things County Council will have to consider at final budget talks next month.

“There’s always things that pop up between interim budget and final budget deliberations. (A community group) may have qualified for a grant, so we may have some deductions. We may have some increases.”

Final budget talks will take place in early April.