Brazeau County’s interim budget for the coming year contains what the County describes as “aggressive investment in the County, and continued relief for ratepayers.”
Council passed the budget December 1 after a series of meetings which took place in late November.
The interim budget maintains the County’s long running freeze on municipal taxes, and for the seventh year, includes a 30 percent commercial businesses rebate. In addition, that rebate has once again been applied to both residential and farmland properties.
However, the most eye catching aspect of the budget is a plan to spend nearly $9.9 million on roads, equipment replacement, and other infrastructure. Highlight of those projects include:
Upgrades at the Brazeau Sports Park ball diamonds, which are conditional on matching grant funding.
Upgrades to the Lodgepole Campground to convert it to a group campground that will be available for rental once complete.
Upgrades to Range Road 73 between Twp Rd 502 and Hwy 624.
Cap seal treatment on Range Road 83.
Upgrades to Parview Estates Road.
Upgrades to Twp Road 485 (Riverside Trails) between Range Road 85 to Range Road 91
Work to improve ditches in Cynthia
“This is a very progressive budget that sees investment in all four corners of the County,” said Reeve Bart Guyon in a media release. “We know by investing in our people, they will invest in the county. We’ve seen our economic development focus pay off already, with a great deal of investment interest from cutting-edge technology companies looking to call Brazeau home.
“We heard clearly during the election that our citizens want tax relief and infrastructure, and by working together, this new council has delivered,” he added. “It was clear from voter turnout and the number of votes successful candidates received that this was the direction people want to go, and that’s the direction we’ve taken.”
Decisions made in the interim budget set the tone for the coming year but may be subject to change before the final budget is approved. The final budget is expected to come to council in April, once the County has received up to date assessment information for 2022.
On Tuesday council approved a schedule of fees for the coming year, with no changes from the previous year. A suggestion by Guyon to remove the $1,000 fee for an area structure plan application was not supported by the majority of council.
The Town of Drayton Valley is expected to pass its interim budget later this month.
