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By rdnewsNOW Staff

$28.5M OPERATING

Innisfail town council approves 2025 budget

Dec 11, 2024 | 10:13 AM

Innisfail’s town council approved an operating budget of $28,532,772 and a capital budget of $21,249,219 for 2025 during its regular meeting Dec. 9.

Officials with the town report increasing operating costs for things such as insurance, supplies and fuel for town vehicles and machinery as presenting challenges for the municipality. They add, these factors have contributed to a slight rate increase outlined in the budget and are intended to keep pace with these costs.

The town will need $10,387,737 from taxes to meet the 2025 operating obligations and to reach that benchmark, the town will determine mill rates in April, once assessments are complete.

“The town still faces a challenge in keeping pace with the increased costs of doing business. Despite this, council has worked hard to keep our increases in line with the costs incurred by the organization,“ commented Mayor Jean Barclay. “ We realize the impact increased costs have on our residents, and we have fought to keep increases to an absolute minimum.”

With a projected mill rate increase of 2.82 per cent, town officials say it will likely be less than the increase passed in other Alberta communities, but reminds that assessment results will determine the total increase for each individual’s property taxes.

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The 2025 budget also includes an incremental increase of one per cent to FORTIS and ATCO franchise fees.

User-based utility rates are also increasing in 2025, reflecting an increase from the regional water and wastewater systems. The rates will increase to $3.26 from $3.01 per cubic metre. This increase is partly attributed to a $0.15 increase in the rate charged to the town by the Mountain View Regional Water Commission, who supplies the town’s water.

There will be no increase in flat fees, which are used to bolster existing reserves allocated for the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure.

Wastewater/sewer rates will increase to $4.31 from $4.00 per cubic metre. This $0.31 increase partially reflects a $0.12 increase in rates charged by the South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission.

Regarding the capital budget, the town has acknowledged that lower provincial funding requires it to seek out other options and has prompted it to contribute to reserves to help minimize the impacts of potential future shortfalls.

The capital projects outlined in the 2025 budget are as follows:

• Aquatic Centre Modernization ($12,266,219)
• Napoleon South Land Development ($4,500,000)
• 2025 Surface Improvements ($925,000)
• 40 Street Infrastructure Replacement ($750,000)
• 42 Avenue Sanitary Forcemain ($750,000)
• Hydrovac Truck ($750,000)
• Fleet trucks/trailer purchase ($415,000)
• Sunterra Lift Station Maintenance ($200,000)
• Council Chambers Upgrade and Repairs ($190,000)
• 2025 Concrete and Asphalt crushing ($150,000)
• Arena Repairs ($110,000)
• Water Truck ($75,000)
• Parks Shop Repairs ($75,000)
• Operations Shop Repairs ($70,000)
• Industrial Washer and Dryer ($15,000)
• Radio Base Station Unit 106 ($8,000)

“We understand our residents’ desire to have recreation facilities that meet their well-being needs. Our commitment to upgrading the Innisfail Aquatic Centre reflects our efforts to ensure our recreation facilities remain viable, while making the most cost-effective decisions for our citizens,” said Barclay. “Council is also committed to finding solutions to the community’s current housing needs. These concerns have been expressed and we’re responding with actions intended to provide solutions for many of our residents.”

Innisfail intends to pursue funding from other sources such as provincial grants, of which there are $1,265,548 worth planned for Innisfail for 2025; while federal contributions for 2025 total $515,183.