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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. The increase translates to approximately $57.85 annually, or $4.82 per month on a residential property valued at $575,000.
The $216.5 million budget includes an estimated $118.3 million for general operations and $98.2 million for capital investments.
Municipal taxes cover all items that contribute to quality of life, including roads, emergency services, and funding for community programs and facilities. Additionally, all municipalities, including the County, must collect education levies to fund schools on behalf of the provincial government and provide support for seniors housing. Municipalities are also bound by the Legislative Act to produce a balanced budget.
In the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Council dipped into reserve funding to provide relief to residents by holding the line on the municipal portion of taxes in previous years.
“This year’s increase in the municipal portion of taxes will help ensure our programs and services can continue to be provided sustainably,” says Reeve Bob Marshall. “Based on our current funding allocations, we are still faced with using reserves to balance a $9 million deficit.
The County’s tax base is rebounding, due to the province bringing an end to the three-year pause on taxes for new well and pipeline projects. However, these gains have been offset by increased demands to maintain capital and operating programs.
Highlights of some of the services, programs and projects Council approved for 2025 include:
- Approximately 70 per cent of the capital budget is going toward road and bridge projects
- $7.8 million in grants to various organizations for recreation, health, community, culture, seniors and special needs transportation, and libraries
- $5.2 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
- The new Recreation and Culture Cost Sharing Agreement between the County and City of Grande Prairie will see an increase of $1.3 million in the County’s annual operating funding for community services and amenities. As part of this agreement, the County will also contribute a retroactive payment of $4.6 million to the City, distributed over four years, to support prior building costs of facilities.
- Additional $2.65 million for the new Teepee Creek Fire Hall, bringing the total project contribution to $4.5 million
- $2.54 million in transfers to the provincial government for RCMP policing costs in addition to $560,000 for the Municipal Police Service Agreement to provide policing services in the Hamlet of Clairmont
- $1.2 million to replace the Bezanson water main and curb stop – Council requested that Administration explore possibilities for cost recovery
- $600,000 increase for engineering costs for the Range Road 62/Highway 43 Flyover project, for a total engineering cost of $995,051
- $150,000 increase to complete the Transportation Master Plan to make the County's roadway system more accessible, connected, and efficient, for a total project cost of $300,000
- $100,000 to the Compassion House Foundation to support accommodations for women receiving cancer care in Edmonton – $20,000 per year over five years (2025 to 2029)
- $75,000 in annual operating funding – $25,000 per year over three years (2025 to 2027) for the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Visitor Information Centre
- Additional $46,156 in operating funding for 2025 to the Bezanson and District Agricultural Society
- Additional $15,000 in operating funding for 2025 to the Teepee Creek Stampede Association
Information provided by the County of Grande Prairie