The County of Grande Prairie has approved the 2025 budget, which includes a 2.4 per cent municipal tax hike.
The increase translates to around $57.85 more per year, or around $4.82 per month on a property valued at $575,000.
Municipal taxes cover all items that contribute to quality of life, including roads, emergency services, and funding for community programming and facilities.
According to the county, public feedback consistently identified roads and public safety as key priorities for this year’s budget. In fact, nearly 70 per cent of the capital budget will go towards road and bridge projects.
Population growth
Since 2012, the county has seen significant growth, with the population sitting right near the 27K mark. Reeve Bob Marshall says this is a testament to what the region has to offer, despite ongoing inflationary pressures on Alberta’s municipalities.
“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,” he says.
Pandemic aftermath
Reeve Marshall maintains that the increase will help to ensure county programs and services remain sustainable; however, council still faces a $9 million deficit as a result of reserve spending during the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Based on our current funding allocations, we are still faced with using reserves to balance a $9 million deficit,” he says.
Demands
Officials say the county’s tax base is “rebounding,” but gains have been offset by “increased demands” to maintain programs.
