(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Blackfalds town council approves 2024 budgets

Nov 29, 2023 | 4:23 PM

Blackfalds residents will see a 2.9 per cent property tax increase in 2024.

The increase is part of the 2024 budget approval, which took place at town council’s meeting on Nov. 28.

First, the capital budget for 2024 is pegged at $5.39 million dollars, with projects including a high school football field, Leung Road upgrades, transfer site upgrades, and more.

The capital budget was approved unanimously.

“I am very pleased with the thorough budget process that integrated significant feedback from residents and included an ample amount of discussion and deliberation with administration and council on the utility rates and the operating capital budget for 2024,” Mayor Jamie Hoover said.

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“We were able to find significant efficiencies in our operations again to minimize by more than 0.5 per cent the increase to taxpayers, while not only maintaining service levels but adding on some needed staffing positions and increasing some grant funding to support community organizations that provide valuable services to our community.”

Meantime, the $33.1 million operating budget also includes changes to water, wastewater and solid waste rates.

The tax increase of 2.9 per cent equates to $5.92 per month on the average house valued at $308,000.

“Administration has worked hard over the last three months to present a budget that reflects the outstanding service levels for residents while also combatting inflationary pressures,” shared Director of Corporate Services Justin de Bresser, who attributes the lower tax increase, in part, to the final payment of the Abbey Centre as the complete amount ($5,040,000 in 2016) will be paid off in full this year.

“The ability to prepay the debenture on the Abbey Centre allowed administration to reduce what was originally over a six per cent tax increase down to 2.9 per cent,” he explained.

In comparison, Lacombe residents are getting a 3.75 per cent increase.

For more details, please see the Council Agenda Budget Memo.