(Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Coaldale Council passes capital and operating budgets

Jan 11, 2022 | 11:18 AM

COALDALE, AB – A municipal tax increase of 1.72 per cent is expected for 2022 in Coaldale.

The town’s council has passed its capital and operating budgets.

It was determined during budget deliberations that $151,279 in additional municipal taxes are required to balance the budget as presented to council. The anticipated 1.72 per cent increase is about half of what economists from Canada’s major banks are projecting as the rate of inflation for the year.

Coaldale mayor Jack Van Rijn stated, “a 1.72 [per cent] change in tax rates is well below the average increase around comparable municipalities.”

“Council carefully considered all angles in our discussions to maintain our level of services with the funds required to balance the budget.”

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The tax increase will impact property owners differently depending on their property’s assessed value. A 1.72 per cent increase is roughly a $13.78 yearly increase for every $100,000 of assessed residential property value, and $17.25 for every $100,000 of non-residential property value.

The town noted that other factors which may affect someone’s property tax bill include fluctuations in property assessments, changes to the provincial Green Acres Foundation budget, and changes to the Government of Alberta school budget.

The approved 2022-2024 operating budget will include the addition of the following requests:

• Records management project
• Fire Master Plan
• Curb stop and alley replacement programs
• Fire hydrant replacement program
• Cottonwood storm pond dredging
• Water reservoir study
• West Coaldale Transportation study
• Main Street supplies
• Inter-Municipal Development Plan
• North Coaldale Industrial ASP
• Library Alcove Renovation

CAPITAL PLAN

Council has also approved the 2022-2026 capital plan, with a focus on projects that are currently underway and approved projects that have yet to start. The town stated that new capital requests are “relatively minimal compared to previous years.”

New capital projects for the 2022 budget include:

• Funding for a new emergency services truck, wide area mower, single axe dump truck, and broom attachment for Bobcat
• Paving of NE Industrial Park roads
• Funding for quads automated irrigation

A more robust capital plan is expected to be developed for the 2023 budget once council has had a chance to establish their strategic priorities.

Additionally, a utility rate increase has been approved for 2022 and 2023 in order to fund the capital and operating requirements for the aerated lagoon upgrade project. The lagoon upgrades are needed to meet current standards under the provincial Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. The project is funded through the AMWWP grant from the provincial government.

More information on the Town of Coaldale’s budget is available here.