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County Considering Option To Address Significant Infrastructure Deficit

Apr 11, 2016 | 5:55 AM

LETHBRIDGE:   Lethbridge County continues to work towards a solution for their infrastructure challenges.

The County is facing a $250-million infrastructure deficit to replace or fix existing roads and bridges, as about 20 per cent of the 166 bridges in the County are approaching the end of their life cycle.

After a series of Open House sessions, County Council gave first reading to a certain option that would phase in a tax for intensive livestock operations based on animal units, as well as a special farmland tax. Reeve Lorne Hickey says this plan would bring in about $3.5-million a year.

“It’s the fairest way to approach it, it’s not all at once which was one thing that came out (during previous open house sessions). Yes, we’ve had lots of suggestions that it’s high, but when you look at it from our side of the book, we also have to service the infrastructure that they need to get to market,” Hickey explains.

The Alberta Beef Producers are one of the groups that have come out against this proposal.

There will be two more open houses this week on the matter. The first is on Tuesday night at the Coalhurst Community Centre, with the other at the McNally School on Thursday evening. Both sessions run from 6 to 8 p.m.

Here’s a link for more information – http://www.lethcounty.ca/government/funding-our-future/business-tax-calculator