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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) 

Find out more about the 2023 operating and capital budget in the attached Budget Highlights.

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Additional information: Budget Highlights attached

Media Contacts:

 

Bob Marshall 
Reeve
780-933-2053

Joulia Whittleton 
CAO 
780-532-9722

Budget Highlights

Capital Budget

The 2023 capital budget is $81.7 million, including $39.6 million for projects carried forward from previous years.

Approximately $22.4 million is being invested in new capital road and bridge projects, including 16.30 km of proposed surface road overlay work.

Grant funding is estimated at $6.9 million, including an estimated $1.5 million Canada Community Building Fund, an estimated $3.4 million in funding from Provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) Grant and an estimated $2 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
  • $2.4 million for spot construction projects
  • $910,000 for Bridge Replacement at Tributary to Kleskun Creek
  • $250,000 for Bridge culvert improvements to Range Road 74 between Highway 43 and Township 712

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 pedestrian trail from the new 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
  • $169,267 for improvements to Bear Lake campground
  • $87,000 for facility improvements to improve user experience at the Crosslink County Sportsplex, including a replacement batting cage and lighting enhancements
  • $51,000 for road and fencing improvements at the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management
  • $40,000 for improvements at the Old Bezanson Townsite campground and day use area
  • $13,000 for repairs to Riverview Pine playground.

Operating Budget

The $106.4 million operating budget for 2023 includes:

  • $6.5 million in recreation, community, culture, FCSS, seniors and special needs transportation, and library grants to various organizations
    • $2.6 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  
    • $2.8 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)
    • $792,000 in additional utility costs to operate County facilities
    • $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

The schedule of fees, rates and charges is available at www.countygp.ab.ca.