With inflation, increasing energy costs, and supply shortages, Strathcona County says they’ve been looking for ways to keep property taxes as low as possible.
After budget deliberations on Thursday (Nov. 24), Strathcona County Council approved a 4.6 per cent tax revenue increase.
This is lower than the 5.5 per cent increase that was proposed in the budget earlier this month.
A single-family household that costs $431,000 will see an increase of $84 more a year for municipal services.
As for utility fees, water, solid waste collection, wastewater, and stormwater management will increase by 3.7 per cent or $4.48 more per month for the average utility customer.
Non-residential properties, the impact for one that costs $1.8 million will clock in at $804 more annually. A property worth $500,000 will see an increase of $220 annually.
Some county user fees and charges increased slightly. Many of these had not seen increases for several years.
The approved 2023 budget amounts to $409.1 million. It will maintain most programs and services while adding a few new initiatives.
The final municipal tax rate will be approved in the spring of 2023.