Lethbridge County Council to move forward with new Operating Budget and Capital Budget in the new year. (Photo: LNN)

By Sarah Jones

Lethbridge County Council approves 2023 operating and capital budgets

Dec 15, 2022 | 3:23 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Country Council has announced the approval of a new Operating Budget for 2023-2027 and a Capital Budget for 2023-2025.

On December 15, 2022, council approved a one-time increase of annual property tax citizens and businesses will pay in 2023 of 5.125 percent (4.034 percent after projected growth).

Heading into 2023, the budget for operations will sit at $30,204,555, with another $14,170,000 budgeted for capital projects.

Some of those capital projects highlighted in 2023 include:

• Replacement of the community playground in Shaughnessy
• Upgrading South Park Lake Road and McNally Road (RR 21-1)
• Rave Industrial Park water, sewer, stormwater, and road upgrades
• Replacement of two bridges
• Water and wastewater studies and assessments throughout the region

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Additional costs added to the budget by the provincial government are over $280,000, with increases of $50,000 for recreation funding to urban neighbours and $235,000 for policing costs.

Recreation contributions now total $400,000 and policing is $704,210 in 2023.

Lethbridge County Council details what will be highlighted in both operating and capital budgets starting in 2023. (Photo: Lethbridge County Council)

In order to offset these costs, the County was able to identify over $852,335 in savings through fleet rate and residential dust control fee increases, staff restructuring, fire service response adjustments, and an estimated increase in fines through the Community Peace Officer program.

Reeve Tory Campbell with Lethbridge County said in a release, “Council carefully reviewed the budget that was presented, had some very frank discussions, proposed a number of changes, and ultimately feel that we have approved a budget that will be the best path moving forward for Lethbridge County.”

“We were able to identify several efficiencies that minimized tax increases while continuing to provide essential municipal services to our citizens and businesses,” added Campbell. “This budget required thoughtful decisions and compromise due to higher costs largely due to inflation, as well as increases to our required policing and recreation contributions.”

Once the 2023 draft budget was created by administration, it was presented to Council over the course of two days, where the operational and capital items were reviewed, deliberated, and revised.

To see and read more about the 2023-2027 Operating Budget and the 2023-2025 Capital Budget head to the Lethbridge County Council website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now