County of Grande Prairie approves 2021 budget with 0% tax rate increase

“While the County still needs to collect municipal taxes to fund essential services like fire, waste management, road maintenance, and water supply, we hope the hold on the tax rate will help households and businesses in our community financially.”

The County was able to hold the tax rate flat for 2021 in part thanks to a rise in overall taxable assessed values. Those increased by 3.07 per cent for 2021, equating to a rise of $284 million in value.

With that, residents are reminded that individual municipal tax amounts may vary based on property assessments and changes to market value.

Broken down, the County says an average residential property valued at $435,000 will pay a total property tax bill of $2,872.70. Of that, $1,772.63 would go towards municipal services, $1,080.45 for provincial education and $19.62 for seniors lodging (provided to the Grande Spirit Foundation).

Rate and Fee Changes

The County says curbside waste collection service fees will increase from $9.50 to $9.75 bi-monthly, while recycling collection will go up from $4.75 to $5.00, also bi-monthly.

Land Lease for Commercial and Industrial use has changed from market value per acre/year to $400, and for Agricultural and Recreational use from market value to $0.60 per acre/year.

Environmental enquiries decreased from $200 per request to $20, while administration fees for Subdivision and Development, and Joint Assessment Board appeals increased from $75 to $500.

Highlights

In the 2021 budget, the County notes that approximately 56 per cent of the capital budget ($31.8 million) is dedicated to road and bridge projects, including $3.33 million for the Highway 40 Twinning and Bridge Construction.

Another $6.7 million will go towards “critical” infrastructure projects, including a new water treatment plant in a new community water system for La Glace, landfill cell and leachate pond for the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management, and to update design standards for land use planning.

Just over $1 million will be spent on new equipment, equipment replacements and upgrades for the Regional Fire Service.

The full list of projects included in Budget 2021 can be found below:

Capital Budget

Road projects:

Windwood Lane Rehabilitation – Overlay 0.7 km
Bezanson Road South/100 St – Base, pave 0.34 km
Clairmont North/107A Ave and 99 St – Overlay 0.9 km
River Road Estates/Township Road 705A – Overlay 0.33 km
Wynngate Phase 4 Rehabilitation/ 96 St, 96A St, 112 Ave – Paving, curb and gutter 1.4 km
156 Ave/Township Road 721A from 98 St to RR 55 to Bauman Road – Overlay 4.1km
Range Road 51 from Township Road 714A to Highway 43 – Overlay 5.7 km
Range Road 63 from Township Road 734 south to Hwy 672 – grade, pase, pave 3.2 km
Range Road 63 from Township Road 734 to Highway 59 – Grade 3.2 km
Range Road 123 from Township Road 732 to Highway 671– grade 6.6 km
Township Road 744 from Range Road 54 to Range Road 60 – grade 3.2 km
Range Road 53 and Township Road 714 – intersection improvements
Range Road 53 from Township Road 714 north – base, pave 0.6 km
Clairmont Parkway to the current new phases of Northfield landing, north of Grande Spirit Seniors Lodge – construct new roadway and stormwater infrastructure
$7 million for bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects including: Rio Grande and Bear River Bridge replacement
$2 million to repave Highway 724 (cost-shared with the Province)
$2.2 million for spot construction, road widening and chip sealing projects
$3.33 million for the Highway 40 Twinning and Bridge Construction (cost-shared with the Province and the MD of Greenview)
$395,000 for Ditch Rehabilitation Program as part of the flood prevention efforts
$300,000 for tree clearing from intersection sites and for intersection investigations to help mitigate safety risks
$70,000 for Road Condition Assessment Study

Other capital projects:

$7.3 million for equipment replacements
$4.7 million to construction Landfill Cell the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management
An additional $390,500 to build a leachate pond for the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management (to fund the $1 million project)
An additional $250,000 for Phase 1B of the La Glace Community Water System (which will fund the $1.4 million project with grant funding estimated at $750,000)
$217,000 for Information Technology server upgrades
$175,000 for new equipment for Regional Fire Service
An additional $150,000 for new fire training centre at the Dunes Fire Hall
$50,000 for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) upgrades for water systems in the hamlets of Bezanson, La Glace, Teepee Creek and Valhalla to allow instant information and data transfer to the operators remotely
$50,000 for Public Works Office renovations
$21,650 for an E-Ticketing System for Regional Enforcement Services to implement Phase 2 of Bill 21 (provincial legislation)
$20,000 for Storm Drain Maintenance
$10,000 for a Power Correction Box for the Crosslink County Sportsplex

Operating Budget

$6 million in recreation, community, culture, library, seniors and special needs transportation, and FCSS grants to various organizations, and neighbouring municipalities as per Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework agreements
Additional $973,000 million for Evergreen Park due to COVID pandemic impacts to support operations for a total contribution of $1.4 million
$150,000 to update design standards for land use planning and infrastructure
$40,000 for Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management scale software and Landfill Tag Program upgrades
One Full Time Equipment Operator for Public Works to maintain existing services and/or infrastructure to ensure effective transportation networks
$20,000 for Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum maintenance

by Shaun Penner

County of Grande Prairie approves 2021 budget with 0% tax rate increase

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