Modest tax rate increase for Blackfalds this year

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Poole points out CPI (consumer price index) actually came out at over two per cent this year.

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“Those are increases that every person in Alberta has to pay in one form or another and if we weren’t to have a modest increase of one per cent, then our taxes would fall behind,” says Poole. “So we are very pleased that administration was able to come in with the budget that they did.”

Poole concludes it’s important to understand that council is very cognizant of the economy this year and they understand a lot of people are still struggling to get back to work.

Town officials say new development and inflationary increases have led to an overall hike in assessment values by $48.7 million to $1.325 billion over the past year.

Total taxes anticipated to be collected this year is $10.4 million for municipal taxes, $3.5 million for the school requisition and $83,855 for the Lacombe Foundation.

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Meantime, Blackfalds residents can now look forward to construction getting started on a new outdoor skating rink and skateboard park pad and lighting project.

Council approved the project after awarding the contract to Shunda Construction which submitted an under-budget bid of $384,847.26 during the request for proposal process.

“We’re excited about the fact that this will be going over on the east side of our town,” explains Mayor Poole. “We are working hard to make sure that we have facilities over there. It’s not too far from both our I-Rec and St. Gregory schools, so they will hopefully be able to take advantage of it at different times.”

Weather permitting, Poole anticipates construction to start in late April or May and be complete by mid-summer.

“When we looked at that area, the skateboard park-pad, it will also include equipment that was utilized at our former skateboard park at the arena,” adds Poole. “That is being moved-over, so there won’t be any extra new expenses on that. It’s a smaller version and we’re excited about the fact that we’re able to re-use the equipment and have it available for the youth and the outdoor skating rink with lighting will be an exciting winter project for the kids and their families.”