County passes operating, capital budgets, property tax bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council approved the final 2025-27 operating budget, and the 2025-29 capital budget during the April 1 regular meeting.

Additionally, council approved all three readings of Bylaw 2025-07, being the Property Tax Rate Bylaw.

Changes to the budgets since last they were brought before the Committee of the Whole include the final requisition values for designated industrial properties, local school districts, and Wheatland Housing Management Body.

Funded through capital reserves, $660,000 has been set aside for the Fire Association capital budget, based on council’s resolution number 2025-03-37.

Fire Association capital items are considered as part of the county’s operating budget because the Association owns them, and the Association is funded through the Fire Capital Reserve, not by the county’s current operational values.

Estimated municipal expenditures and transfers set out for 2025 are $47,768,155 capital, and $54,979,861 operational budgets.

Over the next few years, the county is anticipating a positive financial impact in the realm of $200,000 based on their participation with Calgary’s new hydrogen hub.

Coun. Glenn Koester expressed concerns that since 2021, the county’s unrestricted reserves are down by $26 million, and restricted reserves are projected to be down by $20 million.

“Our net reserve draw down for capital is $1.54 million for this year if we do a three per cent increase. To make revenue neutral, we need an 8.1 per cent increase in taxes,” he said. “Also relating to that, our operating expenses is requiring a transfer from reserves of another $3.82 million.”

Reeve Amber Link iterated her support for the budgets and bylaw as presented are rationalized by the significant affordability of living pressures which have been experienced both by ratepayers and businesses over the last five years.

“This has been a key consideration in our deliberations around setting our tax rate and balancing that with prudent investment in infrastructure, as well as consideration of our reserves and future asset management planning and capital maintenance needs,” she said. “We have substantial capital maintenance responsibilities into the future and we do need to be cognizant of that and I think we have struck a good balance with what we are considering today while also being cognizant of those affordability pressures on our residents and our businesses.”

Joel Chiasson, manager of financial services, who presented before council, explained the property tax bylaw outlines the total budget numbers, including annotation related to the operating and capital budgets.

Additionally, it breaks down the details between tax revenue funded, and other funding sources such as reserves and grants.

“$43.6 million is represented by the total cumulative tax levy … which represents (a) three per cent tax increase,” he said.

Coun. Shannon Laprise motioned that council approve first and second readings of the bylaw, as well as that permission be granted to hold third reading. These motions were all passed unanimously.

Laprise followed, motioning to pass third and final reading of the bylaw. At this time, Coun. Rick Laursen requested a recorded vote of council prior to it being cast. 

The bylaw was carried in favour, with a vote of 5-2. Koester and Laursen were noted as being in opposition of passing.

The capital and operating budgets were similarly carried in favour with a vote of 5-2, Koester and Laursen being opposed.