CARSTAIRS - Total property assessments in Carstairs have topped $1 billion for the first time, according to budget documents approved by town council last week.
During the regularly-scheduled March 24 council meeting, council approved the 2025 operating budget, which calls for revenues to increase from $14,898,718 last year to $16,421,306 million this year.
The budget document included 2024 assessment totals for residential, commercial, industrial and other categories.
The budget also calls for expenses of $14,036,081, up from $13,795,582 in 2024.
Expenses in 2025 includes $1,788,774 on the golf course compared with $1,641,629 in 2024, $758,092 on the arena compared with $696,928 last year, $611,387 on parks compared with $622,620 last year, $77,298 on campground compared with $73,616 in 2024, $77,174 on the community hall compared with $84,288 last year.
Library expenses 2025 are set at $315,317 compared with $292,753 in 2024.
Legislative expenses total $385,994, up from $336,907 last year.
Fire department expenses total $569,331, down from $596,356 in 2024.
Other 2025 expenses include $370,940 for policing, $1 million for roadways, $1.3 million for water, $217,749 for sanitary, and $336,226 for garage.
Plannings expenses are $289,589, asset management $119,732, community services $445,140, development $280,549, lands and buildings $345,901.
The budget included 2024 assessment results showing the town’s overall assessment last year stood at $1,048,890,00, up from $910,092,000 in 2023.
Residential assessments totalled $910,493,750, up from $784,143,600 in 2023. The increase in 2024 includes $40,449,200 in growth and $85,900,950 in inflation.
Commercial assessments totalled $47,348,000, up from $41,629,400 in 2023. The increase was $4,877,800 in growth and $840,800 in inflation.
Industrial assessments totalled $16,972,000, up from $16,700,000. The increase as $43,000 in growth and $229,000 in inflation.
Over all categories the total increases were $51,075,000 from growth and $87,723,00 from inflation.
Council is expected to vote on the 2025 tax rate bylaw next month, pending the town receiving designated industrial property assessment costs from the provincial government, chief administrative officer Rick Blair told the Albertan.
The complete budget is available for viewing the town’s website.
