Lac La Biche County 0% tax increase in 2025 Budget

Lac La Biche County will pass a zero per cent tax increase in the 2025 Budget, after passing the document in council this week.

County council passed the $69.6 million operating and $60.7 million capital budgets at the Tuesday council meeting. 

A total of $8.49 million of spending is towards debenture payments for capital projects, with pre-approved projects like phase three of the Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization Project, continued construction on the new Aquatics Centre at the Bold Centre, and phase three of the McArthur Park Redevelopment Project, all on the books already. 

The County says in a press release that service levels will not decrease, despite a $2 million decrease in the operating budget from last year.

“The Lac La Biche County Advantage continues to be reflected in Council’s budget each year,” says Mayor Paul Reutov in the release.

“By focusing on finding efficiencies while delivering the same services, we have saved more than $5 million in two years. Over the past several years and into our foreseeable future, we are seeing new investments in our community and continued growth; we have seen the numbers of public complaints go drastically down.

“In Lac La Biche County, we are fortunate to be able to offer the best of both worlds: top-quality municipal services while saving significant taxpayer dollars.” 

Council also highlighted these projects. 

• Continuing the Lac La Biche Golf Course Development project, which will keep our top-quality course in good repair for years to come. 
• Water and sewer projects to augment our quality utilities services. 
• A revamp of the Lac La Biche Water Tower.
• A variety of roads and trails, including the Pleasant Acres Subdivision’s base and pave, a walking trail north of Plamondon connecting to the hamlet, and the first phase of the Campsite Road base and pave.
• To improve quality of life in our community, a Bold Centre Sports Field trail and parking paving project and a snowmobile staging area near the Bold Centre are included.