RED DEER COUNTY - The rural municipality has passed its operating and capital budgets for 2019 and the county is "holding the line" on spending.
However, despite the ongoing worrisome recession the mayor says he's confident ratepayers will be smiling when they get their property tax notices in the spring.
"We are not anticipating any huge tax swings for anybody. I am not going to say that we are not going to see some, because at this point in time we don't have all of the (assessment) numbers in," said Mayor Jim Wood. "I think what we are anticipating is that Red Deer County residents will be smiling next year when they see their tax notices. I think we've been able to hold the line the best we can on spending and we have been putting money on what people have asked us to do."
At county council's regular meeting on Dec. 4, the 2019-2021 operating and 2019-2023 capital budgets were unanimously approved following public feedback. The Operating Budget for 2019 increases from $46.9 million to $51.2 million, while the Capital Budget drops from $30.6 million to $24.5 million.
County officials are adamant their hold the line budget is still faithful to their pledge to ensure current service levels and infrastructure are maintained and even enhanced. The 2019 Capital Budget is calling for critically important and necessary million-dollar expenditures to upgrade and repair roads and bridges.
In the meantime, the county will set its mill rate in spring once all the property assessment values have been received and reviewed.
"We are not anticipating any big surprises here at all," said Wood, adding the county has seen huge building permit values over the past year. He noted the $50-million Paterson grain terminal project outside of Bowden came on line this year. As well, he added, the county has seen "substantial" residential, commericial and industrial growth.
"We have seen substantial growth throughout our region and with all of this growth comes new taxes (revenues), and with that coming into our region that is what keeps our taxes low for everyone else," said Wood. "We can never guarantee we won't see some rise, that's because things cost more every year. At some point in time we have to have some adjustments for inflation.
"I am not saying that we will never see a mill rate rise but any changes to our mill rate will be a small number," he added.
For more information on the approved capital and operating budgets county residents can go to www.rdcounty.ca
