Email icon Back to Search

County Council dug deep to adopt the tentative 2023 budget with no proposed increase to municipal tax rates.  

“We know households and businesses are facing increased costs, just like our administration,” explained Reeve Bob Marshall. “This economic reality was top of mind for County Council as we adopted a preliminary budget that maintains services and infrastructure levels while doing everything in our power to avoid increases for residents.”  

The $134.2 million budget includes an estimated $96.5 million for general operations and $37.7 million for capital investments. 

“By setting priorities and dipping into savings, we adopted a preliminary budget with no proposed increase to our municipal tax rates,” said the Reeve. “We are cautiously optimistic and are waiting to see what impact market conditions and provincial grants have on our bottom line, come final budget deliberations.”  

The County continues to contend with millions in lost revenue following provincial changes to assessment rules. Between the pause on taxes for new well and pipeline projects and the permanently eliminated well drilling equipment tax, the County has lost an estimated $6.8 million in revenue in 2021 and the first three quarters of 2022. This is combined with over $1 million in unpaid property taxes from the oil and gas industry.  

A few of the services, programs and projects Council approved for 2023 include: 

  • About 57 per cent of the capital budget is going toward capital road and bridge projects 

  • $7 million of the $25 million total to construct a Regional Enforcement Services and RCMP Detachment Building in the Hamlet of Clairmont  

  • $ 6 million in recreation, community, culture, FCSS, seniors and special needs transportation, and library grants to various organizations 

  • $3.33 million for the final contribution of a total $10 million toward the Highway 40 Twinning and Bridge Construction (cost shared with the Province of Alberta and MD of Greenview) 

  • $2.3 million in Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Contributions, cost sharing agreements with other with other municipalities, including the City of Grande Prairie and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley 

  • $2 million in transfers to the provincial government for RCMP policing costs  

  • $1.8 million for the new Teepee Creek Fire Hall  

  • $1.3 million to the City of Grande Prairie for the revenue sharing agreement which has the purpose of 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)   

The 2023 final budget and tax rates will be approved in April once the province sets the amounts collected for education and property assessment values are confirmed.  

Learn more about highlights of the 2023 interim operating and capital budgets in the Budget Highlights.  

-30- 

 

Additional information: See Budget Highlights  

Media Contacts: 

Bob Marshall 
Reeve
780-933-2053

Joulia Whittleton 
CAO 
780-532-9722

Budget Highlights 

Capital Budget 

Approximately $21.3 million is being invested in new capital road and bridge projects, including 16.3 km of proposed surface road overlay work.  

Grant funding is estimated at $6 million, including an estimated $1.3 million Canada Community Building Fund, an estimated $3.4 million in funding from Provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Grant and an estimated $1.3 million Alberta Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program grant. 

The following is a list of road and bridge projects planned for the 2023 season: 

  • Range Road 30 south of Highway 43 (Knelsen Pit Road) - overlay 4.88 km   

  • Range Road 71 and Township Road 711 south of Township Road 712 - overlay 4.60 km  

  • Crossroads South Industrial Park - overlay 3.02 km  

  • County Industrial Park Access Road (Range Road 61) - overlay 1.60 km  

  • Richmond Hill Estates rehabilitation- overlay 1.30 km  

  • 100 Street in the Highway 43 West Industrial Park - Overlay 0.90 km 

  • $2.5 million for the Kleskun Creek Bridge replacement  

  • $2 million for spot construction projects  

  • $910,000 for Bridge Replacement at Tributary to Kleskun Creek  

In addition to road and bridge construction, the capital budget includes: 

  • $7 million toward the $25 million total construction cost of the Regional Enforcement Services and RCMP Detachment Building in the Hamlet of Clairmont. Construction is expected to be complete by 2025 

  • $1.8 million for the new Teepee Creek Fire Hall 

  • $1.1 million for a new pedestrian trail from the Highway 40 bridge underpass to Township Road 704A through the future Wapiti Recreation Area 

  • $250,000 per year over two years for an asset management system  

  • $204,000 for the third and final phase of IT equipment and network server replacement project, a total of $849,000 

  • $179,680 to replace vehicle extraction tools for Regional Fire Service 

  • $87,000 for facility improvements to improve user experience at the Crosslink County Sportsplex, including a replacement batting cage and lighting enhancements 

  • $40,000 for improvements at the Old Bezanson Townsite campground and day use area 

Operating Budget 

The operating budget proposed for 2023 includes: 

  • $6 million in recreation, community, culture, FCSS, seniors and special needs transportation, and library grants to various organizations 

  • $2.3 million in Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Contributions, cost sharing agreements with other with other municipalities, including the City of Grande Prairie and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley    

  • $2 million in transfers to the provincial government for RCMP policing costs 

  • 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) 

  • $750,000 for ditch maintenance to improve drainage across the County 

  • $241,000 for operational improvements for the Hythe water treatment system, including required licensing and connection to the remote operating system  

  • $235,000 to review the County’s electoral boundaries as required by the province after the dissolution of Hythe  

  • $150,000 to inventory and develop a management plan for stormwater infrastructure 

  • $100,000 to update the landfill masterplan for the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management as required by the province every 10 years 

  • $61,000 for annual business visitation surveys to inform Economic Development programs 

Schedule of Fees and Rates Changes 

  • Curbside waste collection service fees will increase from $9.75 to $10.00 monthly, and for recycling collection from $5.00 to $5.10 monthly to reflect an eight per cent increase to fees from Aquatera.     

  • Property owners in the hamlets of Bezanson, Hythe, La Glace, Teepee Creek, and Valhalla who are connected to County water and/or wastewater systems will see an increase of three per cent to fees due to inflation. The average residential user will see an increase of $2.00 for wastewater and $4.00 for water on their bi-monthly bills. 

  • Fees for individual sites at County campgrounds will increase by $1.00 per night due to increased operating costs.  

The updated schedule of fees, rates and charges Bylaw will be posted in early 2023.