By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Council votes to lower proposed increase on the municipal portion of property taxes to zero

Apr 18, 2022 | 6:37 PM

Some extra money coming into city hall means there will be no increase to the municipal portion of property taxes for Grande Prairie ratepayers in 2022.

The proposed increase after budget talks last fall was 1.16 per cent.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says this is because the city wound up with a surplus of over $4.2 million in 2021.

“Council has made a motion to put money into the Financial Stabilization Reserve and, with that, taking the appropriate amount of money to have a zero per cent tax increase.”

“So, approximately $800,000 has been identified as what will get us to a zero per cent increase in 2022.”

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Clayton says there was a surplus because city buildings were not operating during COVID.

“When buildings weren’t opening and we weren’t operating, we acquired this surplus and, in turn, council now has put the money in (an) appropriate reserve (fund).”

Clayton says another $735,000 out of that $4.2 million will cover retroactive pay in a new RCMP contract while $500,000 will go back into a reserve fund after it was taken out for a community safety program where people could apply for funding for things like motion detection lighting. The remainder will stay in a reserve fund.

She adds changes in things like assessments and the education requisition could still mean changes in tax bills.

“So, the education portion we expect probably will increase. Assessment is a moving sort of target, but the municipal portion will be a zero per cent tax increase.”

“As I keep reminding people, we have added many services (and) amenities (like) an activity and reception centre. We put $89 million into the community in our largest capital plan in history.”

The province decides the amount of the education requisition.

Clayton says council will be looking at proposed budgets for the next four years at budget discussions this fall.