(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW staff

2025 Budget

Blackfalds town council approves 5% property tax increase

Nov 29, 2024 | 10:51 AM

Blackfalds town council unanimously approved the town’s 2025 capital budget and five-year capital plan, as well as 2025 operating budget and three-year operating forecast, this week.

As a result, there will be a five per cent increase in property taxes to support Blackfalds’ community growth and service needs.

There was a 4.7 per cent tax increase in 2023 and 2.9 per cent in 2024.

“Our council collaborated with senior staff and conducted a thorough consultation process, which clearly indicated a community desire to maintain Blackfalds’ current service levels and support our continued growth,” said Mayor Jamie Hoover in a release.

“In recent years, we focused on keeping tax increases below inflation. However, we recognize that a tax increase is necessary to sustain growth and address rising costs. This commitment is reflected in our balanced three-year operating budget, which includes targeted increases in critical staffing, such as emergency services.”

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Director of Corporate Services Justin de Bresser said that due to the tax increase, “the average house valued at $350,000 will increase by $11.00 per month.”

The 2025 capital budget, originally proposed at $5,122,000, was approved at $3,922,000 after council delayed a $1.2 million roundabout project at Broadway and Womacks.

Some of the biggest projects in the 2025 capital plan include a $2.5 million northwest storm sewer funded by grants, $500,000 siting and land purchase for a snow storage facility funded by reserves, and $220,000 for a Toro groundsmaster mower also funded by reserves.

Meanwhile, the five-year capital plan was broken down from 2025 to 2029 including $3,922,000 (2025), $5,987,500 (2026), $9,635,649 (2027), $7,044,500 (2028), and $1,982,000 (2029) for a total of $28,571,649.

The 2025 operating budget is set for $35,997,204 which is $2.6 million more than the 2024 operating budget at $33,412,430. Among some of the expenses includes $11,595,118 going toward salaries, wages and benefits, and $11,070,993 will be put into contracted and general services.

Utility rates are also going up.

In 2025, there’ll be a base rate of $64.14 per month ($769.68 annually) for a typical and single occupant house which is more than the $63.66 in 2023.

For a variable rate at a typical house, it will increase to $106.81 per month ($1,281.74 annually) compared to the $99.76 per month in 2024. And for a variable rate in a low consumption/single occupant house, it’ll increase to $47.47 per month ($569.66 annually) compared to $44.34 per month in 2024.

The three-year operating budget was also approved at $35,997,204 (2025), $37,070,919 (2026), and $37,725,072 (2027).