Skip to Content

Rocky Mountain House approves 2025 operating and capital budget including 2 per cent tax increase

Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada / 94.5 Rewind Radio
Jordan Rein
Dec 17, 2024 | 12:38 PM
Rocky Mountain House approves 2025 operating and capital budget including 2 per cent tax increase

Rocky Mountain House has approved its 2025 budget which includes an overall 2 per cent tax increase. The operating budget is set at $28,042,892. Capital projects for 2025 are projected at $5.827 million. (94.5 Rewind Radio/Jordan Rein)



The Town of Rocky Mountain House has approved its 2025 operating and capital budget, which includes a 2 per cent tax increase.

Calculations show the average residential property tax bill will rise by approximately $69 per year, or $5.75 per month. Non-residential property owners can expect annual increases ranging from $153 to $421. Despite these increases, the town’s overall tax rate is still in line with the current 2 per cent Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The 2 per cent overall tax increase will see a rise of 1.91 per cent for residential properties, 2.10 per cent for non-residential commercial properties, and 2.16 per cent for large non-residential businesses.

Actual property tax rates will be set in the spring after the town receives its 2024 property assessment roll.

The 2025 operating budget is set at $28,042,892, marking an increase of nearly $1.16 million from 2024. Revenue sources contributing to the increase include higher taxes ($209,000), increased utility revenue ($550,379), grants ($310,581), and franchise fees ($159,558).

The cost of governance (council) is forecasted at $373,871, or 1.3 per cent of the overall operating budget.

Key Drivers of the Budget

Several significant factors have influenced the budget. The operating budget reflects increased expenditures in areas such as protective services, transportation, utilities, and recreation. Key cost drivers include:

  • Protective services: $282,083 due to higher RCMP rates ($4.3 million overall)
  • Transportation: $177,256, stemming from higher road maintenance and repair costs ($2.2 million overall)
  • Utilities: $736,730 for the new mechanical wastewater treatment plant, required by the provincial government ($6.4 million overall)
  • Recreation: $163,713 to hire additional staff and cover rising maintenance costs at local facilities like the arena and pool ($4.6 million overall)

The wastewater treatment plant, which will cost an additional $1 million annually to operate, is a significant new operational change for 2025. It replaces an outdated lagoon system and is expected to become fully operational in mid-2025. The new plant has also led to an increase in utility rates for residents. However, the average utility bill of $142 remains lower than the $152 average for similar communities.

Another key operational change is the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which shifts the cost of residential recycling to producers. This has allowed the town to reduce the monthly cost of garbage pickup for residents, with the savings offset by grant funding from producers.

Staffing and Capital Projects

The 2025 budget also includes funding for 2.5 new staff positions. These include a maintenance worker, an additional Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) staff member (funded entirely through FCSS funding), and a half-time position for a rural renewal stream coordinator.

Capital projects for 2025 are projected at $5.827 million, focusing on transportation, utilities, and parks. Notable projects include:

  • A $800,000 upgrade to the water main beneath Highway 11A and 752, which has experienced several breaks in recent years.
  • Development of a new parking lot to support a pump track.
  • Playground replacements, ball diamond upgrades and trail expansions.

A separate motion saw an originally budgeted project for wayfinding signage to come back to council at a later date for final design approval.

These capital projects will be funded through a combination of reserves, county contributions, and various capital grants.

Proposed capital projects around town in the approved 2025 budget. (Town of Rocky Mountain House)

In total, the town says the 2025 budget reflects the its commitment to maintaining and enhancing its infrastructure while keeping costs manageable for residents. Council is confident these investments will benefit the community well into the future.

The approval came after budget deliberations on Nov. 27, 2024, with no major changes made to the proposed budget during the review process.

–

READ MORE:

–

Comments

Leave a Reply