Kneehill County, March 28, 2023 - Kneehill County Council has approved the 2023 Operating and Capital budgets.
Council’s priorities throughout budget deliberations were to maintain existing service levels, while ensuring effective management of County assets and supporting the long-term financial sustainability of the organization, with the commitment to set tax rates that are both competitive and reasonable for ratepayers.
In alignment with those Council priorities, several key investments are included in the 2023 Budget including $1.05 million in bridge improvements and rehabilitations, $700,000 to fund gravel crushing, and $4.9 million in fleet replacements to support road maintenance, parks, and fire operations.
“Kneehill County is operating with $5.8 million less funding than we had in 2019, largely as a result of provincial policy.” Said Kneehill County Deputy Reeve, Ken King. “Council and administration have worked hard to find efficiencies and mitigate the impacts this year, without affecting our service levels for residents.”
Assessment increases were another factor to consider in designing the 2023 Budget. With an average assessment increase of 7.2% throughout the County, Council identified mill rates that would keep ratepayer impacts reasonable.
While the individual impacts on homeowners will be dependent on their assessed values, the typical hamlet home (assessed at $150,000) will see an increase of $30 annually, acreages (assessed at $350,000) will see an annual increase of approximately $69 and farmland increases will be approximately $66 annually. Local commercial and non-residential entities will see a proportionate adjustment based on their change in assessment.
View our video “How Assessment and Taxation Work” to learn more. (YouTube: @kneehillcounty48)
Two additional components in the 2023 Budget include an increase in water rates and minimum tax bills.
To improve the water services cost recovery ratio, rates will increase by 10 cents per cube on all residential and bulk water sold by the County.
For bulk water users who utilize low volumes (approximately 85% of all accounts) a high-level estimate of annual impact is approximately $22.50. For moderate volume bulk water users (approximately 14% of accounts) the high-level estimate of annual impact is approximately $97.50. For users with a water connection the average annual impact is estimated to be $22.80.
The minimum property tax bill has also increased by $25, from $100 to $125.
“Budgets are all about balance. We need to ensure our rates and fees for services are appropriate and competitive while managing expenditures, ensuring core services aren’t impacted, and planning for the future.” Said King. “Through months of deliberation, Council is confident we have achieved this in 2023.”
Visit Kneehill County’s website for Budget 2023 information.
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