INNISFAIL - The Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS), which includes schools in Innisfail and Olds, will pay about $130,000 in carbon taxes to heat its facilities in 2023, officials say.
The total represents about a $20,000 increase over 2022’s total. The taxes are paid on natural gas used to heat the division’s 19 schools and related buildings.
Under the federal carbon tax program, the price per gigajoule increases from $2.63 last year to $3.26 in 2023.
Rod Steeves, the RDCRS secretary/treasurer, said the increase this year was anticipated by the division.
“We’ve been lucky enough to be able to keep our budget fairly balanced over the last several years,” Steeves told the Albertan. “It’s not something we like to pay for, but it is what it is and we have to adjust things accordingly.”
Asked if the division will need to increase school fees or let staff go to cover the increased cost in 2023, he said no.
The division had budgeted about $500,000 to heat its schools in 2023, he said.
The carbon tax rate is expected to rise to $6.33 per gigajoule by 2027.
