Potential tax increase for Grande Prairie ratepayers at 3.28 per cent at conclusion of city hall budget talks

“I think that although 3.28 is a raise in taxes, council discussed at the end that we’re cognizant of the fact that taxes are something that is in consideration on a regular basis.”

Councillors opted, by a 6-3 vote, to take $1 million out of funds already in place to put towards the budget and lower the potential tax increase. Half of that amount is from a reserve fund.

Councillors Dylan Bressey, Chris Thiessen and Mike O’Connor all voted against this idea. They were all worried that a lower tax increase now would lead to higher increases in future years, with some saying other communities have seen double-digit hikes.

Potential tax increases for Grande Prairie are currently at 5.09 per cent for 2025, 4.38 per cent for 2026 and 2.05 for 2027.

Councillors also voted to lower the tax increase by pushing a $1.75 million project to fix the former Highway 43 west of the airport to 2025. Along with an additional $250,000 for resurfacing will be paid for out of reserves rather than by new taxation.

Councillors voted to add a new indoor sports facility at a cost of $10 million. This would be paid for by borrowing.

EverythingGP asked Clayton what she would say to ratepayers, wondering what they would get for paying more in property taxes.

“I would say that there was $10 million funded in a new facility, a recreation facility that you will see in the near future. That includes debt servicing on that.”

“You will see significant work done on our roads. You will continue to see improvements in our community, and you will continue to see the focus (on) the quality of life and the priorities council identified at the beginning of this term.”

Councillors also voted to provide $500,000 to fund the new Maskwa Medical Centre. That money would come from money already in place.

Clayton says council knows there is a need for more healthcare services in Grande Prairie.

“Many people, including most of council, don’t have family doctors. On a regular basis, we hear from our community (about) the dire need for enhanced healthcare services and (for) more healthcare professionals and doctors.”

Clayton adds Maskwa would see people see a team of physicians that would do assessments.

Councillors also approved $333,000 for a new building at Rising Above. Both will be paid out of a fund already in place.

The County of Grande Prairie and MD of Greenview have also been asked to contribute to Rising Above and to the Maskwa Medical Centre.

The contributions to Maskwa and Rising Above, along with $500,000 of the $1 million taken out of money already set aside, all come from the same source. It is called the Council Strategic Initiatives Fund.

Clayton says council believes this fund was put there to spend in this term.

“It’s not a reserve. It was put there at the beginning of the term in order to support initiatives that council identified as priorities, so funding things like Maskwa is exactly what that was intended for.

This fund still contains $756,000.

The city says in a release that the following items are included in the 2024 budget:

· $16,850,000 in roads, bridges, pedestrian links, and intersection improvements

· Increased funding for asphalt maintenance

· $300,000 for playground resurfacing and replacement

· $50,000 for the Healthcare Attraction and Retention Strategy

· $50,000 for the Indigenous Relations Framework

· $264,200 for the 2024 Census

· 5% funding increase for the Grande Prairie Public Library

The budget still has to be officially approved at the next regular meeting of City Council. It is scheduled for November 27.

by Curtis Galbraith

Potential tax increase for Grande Prairie ratepayers at 3.28 per cent at conclusion of city hall budget talks

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