The budget is one of the most critical policy decisions Council makes each year. Careful budgeting and sound financial decisions mean better services for our communities and ensure taxpayers are getting the best value for their money.
Everything the County does has an associated cost. Whether it is a direct service such as policing, snow removal, and the labour and equipment for road maintenance; or an indirect cost such as maintaining our facilities. Council and staff spend a great deal of time making sure careful financial decisions are aligned with taxpayer expectations.
County of Grande Prairie Council approved the 2025 budget with a 2.4 per cent municipal tax rate increase to ensure alignment with public feedback which consistently identifies roads and public safety as key priorities.
Read the 2025 budget media release for details.
Watch the Making Sense of the Budget video to learn more about the County of Grande Prairie's annual budget process.
Financial Statements:
| Prior Year Financial Statements |
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Financial Statements are based on a calendar year of operations and are completed and audited or reviewed annually. 2023 Financial Statements (Audited) 2022 Financial Statements (Audited) 2021 Financial Statements (Audited) 2020 Financial Statements (Audited) 2019 Financial Statements (Audited) 2018 Financial Statements (Audited) 2017 Financial Statements (Audited) 2016 Financial Statements (Audited) 2015 Financial Statements (Audited) 2014 Financial Statements (Audited) Hythe residents joined the County on July 1, 2021 as the hamlet of Hythe. Residents can view prior village Financial Statements: 2021 Village of Hythe Financial Statements (Audited) |
More information
The following Guide from Alberta Municipal Affairs will help you have a more clearer understanding of how to read the financial statements and explain what everything means. If you have would like to discuss any of the financial documents, please contact the Director of Financial Services at 780-532-9722.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do municipalities have to develop budgets? |
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Under Alberta's Municipal Government Act, every municipality is required to develop a three-year operating budget and five-year capital budget to allocate revenues and expenditures for their municipality. |
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What is an operating budget? |
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An operating budget is a financial plan for the costs related to the general day-to-day activities of the County which is primarily funded through property taxation. Examples include enforcement and fire services, parks and recreation facilities, and County staff salaries. |
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What is a capital budget? |
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The County's capital budget is the planned purchases of new fixed assets or improvements to existing ones. Most of the County’s capital plan is made of paving and maintenance equipment such as graders. |
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How does the County fund the budgets, and what do your budget expenses fund? |
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Council and Administration work hard to calculate exactly how much money is necessary to fund the programs and services in the operating and capital budgets and then generate the funds from multiple sources including property tax, special levies such local improvement levies, federal and provincial grants, user fees, and sale of goods. As part of budgeting the Council may set aside revenue for future use in a reserve. The County may use debt to fund capital expense as well. Everything the County does has an associated cost, whether it is a direct service such as policing, snow removal and the purchasing of a vehicle to use for road maintenance or an indirect cost such as maintaining our facilities and running the municipality. |
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What is a reserve? |
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A reserve is like a savings account. Every year, the County puts funds into reserves. Money is only taken out of a reserve when needed or according to a plan. The County has set various requirements for usage, funding, and level of saving for each reserve, which is detailed in our policies. |
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How is debt used? |
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The County typically only uses debt to fund critical capital projects. Municipal regulations set by the Province set a limit on how much debt municipalities can use. The decision to use debt is based on availability of reserves and grants and long-term benefits to County residents of getting the service now or waiting till funds come available. If debt is used the County must find a way to fund that debt in future years. The funding can come from property tax, local improvements and user fees. |
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How is the County's yearly budget set? |
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Council begins by developing an understanding of the challenges that may be faced and the priorities to be pursued. This information is outlined in the Strategic Plan. |
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What is a Strategic Plan? |
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The Strategic Plan guides us in our short- and long-term planning and serves as a foundation upon which the County's Business Plan, master plans, division and department plans, and annual budgets are developed. |
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When does the County approve the budget? |
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The County approves an interim budget in the fall annually for the following year. The finalized budget and municipal tax rates are approved once the Province sets the final property tax levy for education requisitions, and when property assessment values have been confirmed through final budget deliberation meetings in April. |
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What is a municipal tax mill rate? |
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The County sets the tax mill rate and is what property owners pay in municipal taxes. The tax mill rate does not include the education and seniors' foundation levies that all municipalities including the County must collect on behalf of the provincial government. The tax bill that property owners receive every May includes the tax mill rate and the provincial education tax and Grande Spirit Foundation tax. |
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How much will the average household pay in residential property taxes? |
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Council approved the 2024 budget with a 2.9 per cent municipal tax rate increase. In 2024, an average residential property valued at $496,561 will pay a total property tax bill of $3,373.19:
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How are property values assessed? |
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Residential property values are based on the home's market value, which is the price a property is reasonably expected to sell for if sold by a willing seller to a willing buyer. Assessors gather information on ranges of sale prices in the marketplace and use these sales to determine the assessed values. In setting the values on a property, assessors complete the valuation using mass appraisal techniques and statistical data as part of the process for calculating market value assessments. It is important to note that some types of property such as farmland, machinery & equipment, and linear are assessed using provincially regulated rates or other methods not based on market value. For more information on property assessment, contact the Assessment department at 780-532-9722 or visit the Assessment page. Further details, check out Municipal Affair's Guide to Property Assessment and Taxation in Alberta. |
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Why have my municipal taxes increased? |
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Council has to balance the needs for services and the related costs of those services with the need to get funding for the those services. In the 2024 budget process Council and Administration deemed it necessary to increase the municipal tax rate by 2.9 per cent to fund the County’s services long-term. Your total property tax bill may have gone up to more than 2.9 per cent. The other increases could be caused by a change in your assessed value and/or levies from Grande Spirt Foundation and the Province.
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What is the budget for 2024? |
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The overall $223.5 million budget includes $107 million for general operations, $6.5 million for debt payments and $110 million for capital which includes $54.3 million in projects carried over from previous years. |
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What are your tax dollars spent on? |
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View the Making Sense of the Budget Fact Sheet for a breakdown of your municipal tax dollars at work. |
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When are taxes due and how can I pay? |
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Property tax payments are due on June 28, 2024. Payments made after this date and time will be subject to a penalty. Learn more about payment options. Hours for the County Administration Building will be extended to accommodate property tax payments.
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Are there any payment options where I can divide my payments up instead of paying in one lump sum? |
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Yes, property owners can divide their payments through our Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP). To learn more and enroll, please visit our Payments page |
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Who do I contact if I have more questions about my taxes? |
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If you have more questions about your taxes, feel free to contact us via email at taxes@countygp.ab.ca or give us a call at 780-513-3968. |