Following deliberations, County Council approved the final capital and operating budgets for 2023 with no increase to the municipal tax rate. The $195.1 million budget includes an estimated $106.7 million for general operations, $6.7 million for debt payments and $81.7 million for capital investments including $39.6 million for projects continued from previous years.

“County Council passed this budget under challenging circumstances by balancing impacts to residents while dealing with significant increases in many areas such as utilities and general inflation,” said Reeve Bob Marshall. “Despite the difficult economic climate and lost revenue from provincial changes to assessment rules, this budget reflects our commitment to infrastructure and service levels while maintaining stable tax rates.” 

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 $7.2 million in revenue in 2021 and 2022. This is combined with over $1.4 million in unpaid property taxes from the oil and gas industry.  

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

·Approximately 59 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 

·$6.5 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)

·$2.8 million in transfers to the provincial government for RCMP policing costs

·$2.6 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

·$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) 

Information provided by the County of Grande Prairie