STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
Photo by Curtis Galbraith.
By Curtis Galbraith
County of Grande Prairie

County of Grande Prairie Council approves final 2025 budget

Apr 17, 2025 | 4:22 PM

County of Grande Prairie Council has approved the final budget for 2025.

It calls for a 2.4 per cent municipal tax increase. The county says that works out to $57.85 a year or $4.82 a month for a residential property worth $575,000.

“This year’s increase in the municipal portion of taxes will help ensure our programs and services can continue to be provided sustainably. Based on our current funding allocations, we are still faced with using reserves to balance a $9 million deficit,” says Reeve Bob Marshall in a release from the county.

There is $98.2 million set aside for capital projects and $118.3 million for operations.

The county included the following highlights in that same release.

  • Approximately 70 per cent of the capital budget is going toward road and bridge projects
  • $7.8 million in grants to various organizations for recreation, health, community, culture, seniors and special needs transportation, and libraries
  • $5.2 million in Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Contributions, cost sharing agreements with other municipalities, including the City of Grande Prairie and the Towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley
  • The new Recreation and Culture Cost Sharing Agreement between the County and City of Grande Prairie will see an increase of $1.3 million in the county’s annual operating funding for community services and amenities. As part of this agreement, the County will also contribute a retroactive payment of $4.6 million to the city, distributed over four years, to support prior building costs of facilities.
  • Additional $2.65 million for the new Teepee Creek Fire Hall, bringing the total project contribution to $4.5 million.
  • $2.54 million in transfers to the provincial government for RCMP policing costs in addition to $560,000 for the Municipal Police Service Agreement to provide policing services in the Hamlet of Clairmont.
  • $1.2 million to replace the Bezanson water main and curb stop – Council requested that Administration explore possibilities for cost recovery.
  • $600,000 increase for engineering costs for the Range Road 62/Highway 43 Fly over project, for a total engineering cost of $995,051
  • $150,000 increase to complete the Transportation Master Plan to make the County’s roadway system more accessible, connected, and efficient, for a total project cost of $300,000
  • $100,000 to the Compassion House Foundation to support accommodations for women receiving cancer care in Edmonton – $20,000 per year over five years (2025 to 2029)
  • $75,000 in annual operating funding – $25,000 per year over three years (2025 to 2027) for the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Visitor Information Centre
  • Additional $46,156 in operating funding for 2025 to the Bezanson and District Agricultural Society
  • Additional $15,000 in operating funding for 2025 to the Teepee Creek Stampede Association

Capital Budget

Approximately $68.4 million is being invested in capital road and bridge projects including surfacing Richmond Hill Estates (West) and Morgan’s Mountain Estates.

Grant funding is estimated at $19.9 million, including an estimated $5.6 million Canada Community Building Fund, an estimated $10.7 million in funding from the Local Government Fiscal Framework Grant and an estimated $3.6 million Alberta Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program grant.

Some of the highlights of the capital budget include:

  • $16.9 million for the divisional road program
  • $12.6 million for fleet replacement.
  • $9.4 million in surfaced road rehabilitation
  • $4.5 million for the new Teepee Creek Fire Hall.
  • $2.1 million for Morgan’s Mountain Estates Road Surfacing.
  • $1.7 million for Richmond Hill Estates (West) Road Surfacing.
  • $1.2 million in water main and curb-stop replacement in Bezanson.
  • $427,497 in additional funding for the Administrative Complex redesign project.
  • $400,000 upgrade to the Range Road 53 and Highway 43 intersection.
  • $222,520 to replace specialized fire equipment nearing expiration dates/end of life.
  • $65,000 for the Hythe sewer lagoon geotechnical assessment.

Operating Budget

The operating budget for 2025 includes:

  • $7.8 million in grants to various organizations for recreation, health, community, culture, seniors and special needs transportation, and libraries.
  • An estimated $5.2 million in Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) contributions, cost sharing agreements with other municipalities, including the City of Grande Prairie and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley, pending outcomes of ongoing contract negotiations.
  • An estimated $1.3 million to the City of Grande Prairie for the tax sharing agreement to be allocated to projects fostering regional development (share of municipal tax revenue – 20 per cent from the co-generational facility and 10 per cent on any new commercial/industrial development in areas serviced by Aquatera).
  • $600,000 to STARS – $200,000 annually for three years (2025 to 2027).
  • $300,000 for additional road sand and salt due to freeze/thaw cycles.

Schedule of Fees and Rates Changes

The schedule of fees, rates and charges is available at www.countygp.ab.ca.

Reeve Marshall also talked about a population increase in that release.

“Our 2025 municipal census indicates the County’s population is 26,701, up 26 per cent from the last municipal census in 2012. “This significant growth makes it clear that the County offers a high quality of life and is committed to low and competitive tax rates even as our cost to maintain programs and services continues to rise due to inflation and our rapid population growth.”

by Curtis Galbraith