By Curtis Galbraith

County of Grande Prairie

Zero per cent tax increase in new County of Grande Prairie interim budget

Dec 10, 2021 | 6:36 PM

The interim 2022 budget approved by County of Grande Prairie council includes a proposed zero per cent tax increase.

A news release from the county says this is the third straight budget with no increase in municipal taxes.

Council had asked administration to come back with a budget with a zero per cent increase earlier this year.

The release goes on to say the $128 million budget includes $96 million for operating expenses and $32 million for capital projects. Seventy-two per cent of that capital budget is for road and bridge projects.

Some other budget items include:

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• $5.2 million in recreation, community, culture, library, seniors & special needs transportation, and FCSS grants to various organizations across the region
• $3.8 million in contributions to Aquatera Utilities Inc. for the Clairmont Regional Lift Station
• $3.8 million for the land acquisition and design for the proposed RCMP Rural Detachment in Clairmont
• $3.33 million of a total $10 million contribution toward the Highway 40 Twinning and Bridge Construction (cost-shared with the Province of Alberta and MD of Greenview)
• $1.3 million to the City of Grande Prairie as per the revenue sharing agreement
• $1.1 million in Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Contributions, cost-sharing agreements with other boundary communities, including the MD of Greenview Saddle Hills County, Birch Hills County, and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley
• $200,000 for the land acquisition and design for the Teepee Creek Fire Hall replacement

The county also says Hythe becoming a hamlet also had financial implications including outstanding debt and needed infrastructure work.

Council decided to gradually reduce taxes for all Hythe property owners over time to match what other property owners in the county have to pay.

This will be done from 2022 to 2025 with the extra money going to clear those debts.

The budget will be finalized in the spring when property assessments and the education requisition from the province are known.