Following three-days of budget deliberations between December 7-9, 2022, Clearwater County council has approved a four-year financial and 10-year capital plan at their regular meeting held December 20, 2022.

County officials say these plans include operating and capital budgets for next year.

Officials say the 2023 operating and capital budgets include operating revenues of $56,229,889 and operating expenses of $69,965,024 (including amortization) using $4,154,773 of restricted funds for operations, capital revenue of $11,810,550 and capital expenses of $55,123,675, using $36,209,325 of restricted funds for capital.

Highlights of capital projects proposed for 2023 include gravel road rehabilitation ($4.93) million, Beaver Flats Road grading ($6.17M), Condor replacement of collection mains, curb and gutter/storm water improvements ($1.18M), replacement of bridge and bridge culvert rehabilitation ($8.89M), Leslieville East Road base/pave ($4.01M), River Road grading/base/pave ($2.9M), Condor paving ($2.13M), Leslieville Recreation Area ($1.65M), Broadband Core Backbone ($420,000), Nordegg Industrial Subdivision ($3.11M), Nordegg Phase 2 Residential Subdivision ($1.2M), and Nordegg South Townsite Access Road ($3.28M).

“Council will be entering the new year with many projects to complete – like the Municipal Development Plan review and new Area Structure Plans for Leslieville and Condor – and starting many more new projects. This will be another ambitious year of construction projects and we have full confidence in administration to help guide us through the challenges that lie ahead,” said Reeve Daryl Lougheed. “Council is grateful for the many previous councils who have made fiscally responsible decisions to have the financial stability to carry us forward as the world around us experiences much uncertainty.”