By Suhaib Yusuf

Zero Per Cent Tax Rate Increase

Blackfalds council approves 2022 operating budget

Feb 23, 2022 | 4:27 PM

Residents of Blackfalds can expect to see a zero per cent tax rate increase this year.

On Feb. 22, council approved the Town’s 2022 operating budget, which comes in at a recommended $29,801,048.

When compared to the 2021 operating budget, which included a 0.6 per cent tax rate increase, Town officials say this year’s budget includes an increase of over $2 million.

“Administration has worked hard on streamlining processes and looking for efficiencies to present a 0 per cent tax increase,” shared Director of Corporate Services, Justin de Bresser.

Mayor Jamie Hoover, however, couldn’t help but be a little disappointed.

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Hoover said he understands both the taxpayer side of not having to pay more taxes, but also wanting 2022 to be a year for economic growth to return, and for the town of Blackfalds to stabilize after having two difficult years, economically speaking.

“We are confident that Blackfalds is still the strong, vibrant, sustainably growing community that has been the reason that we keep improving even during these challenging times, and in 2022 we will continue that in a financially prudent way,” Hoover said. “I’m amazed and proud of this community for its resilient ability to build so much improvement and opportunity in such a relatively short time.”

Town officials say the 2022 operating budget was prepared and reviewed through a collaborative process which began in early summer of 2021 with the approval of the budget timeline and public engagement using an internal survey provider.

During this time, Blackfalds administration and council had various discussions, presentations, and budget workshops, with this time spent allowing administration and council to come to a unanimous decision on the new operating budget for this year.

For more information, visit the town of Blackfalds website at blackfalds.ca.