Town of Bonnyville angling toward 2% tax increase as final budget is prepared

Inflation being felt for municipalities, costs increasing. 

The Town of Bonnyville’s 2024 Budget is trending toward a two per cent tax increase.

On Tuesday evening, residents were invited into council chambers and online to their Budget Open House, where administration provided a financial overview heading into the new year.

With general expenses, planning & development, and BRFA costs increasing, plus community non-profits asking for more money this go-around, over a million dollars in deficit could be expended if there are no reductions.

“We are feeling a little bit of a pinch, as you would call it. Especially when we think about the increase in a lot of the costs when it comes to, you know, new equipment, everything’s gone up,” Mayor Elisa Brosseau said on The Morning After. 

“The conversations are really around a two per cent tax increase. We’ve talked about often in the past how we really want to keep things stable for our residents and something long term that they know they can anticipate. And I think we’ve done two per cent in the last couple years. I think two per cent is probably where we’re going to end up this year.” 

The Morning After with Mayor Elisa Brosseau

New swimming pool

In the capital budget, the discussion is dominated by a new aquatics facility.

Dangling in the air is a $11 million federal grant application, which Brosseau said they’ll get a response from in January or February.

The Town is putting the ID 349 money, totalling a hair over $6 million, away to save for this new pool.

“It’s contingent on this application for grant with the federal government 11 million is a third of the costs. We’re hoping a third from the federal government, we pitch in money, of course, looking at maybe some of our neighbours if they want to pitch in, and the province as well,” said Brosseau. 

“In anticipation of this grant coming through, we also have to put our money aside, in the hopes that we do get the grant. So a lot of the capital budget is allocated to the pool. And then from there, we have to decide, okay, what are some of those maybe roads that you know, need or need to be done right away? What can be held off?” 

These budget discussions will culminate next Tuesday when the interim budgets are passed. The final budget won’t pass until property assessments are garnered in the spring, with the final tax and mill rates being set.

The budget open house can be viewed here.