Budget

Council approved the 2023 budget at its December 20, 2022 regular Council meeting. The budget is one of the most important documents that Council approves. It provides Council’s direction on spending for the coming and future years and allows administration to implement Council’s directed service levels for the municipality. 

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The Town of Rocky Mountain House Council has adopted its balanced 2023 operating budget in the amount of $23,873,507 and capital budget of $16,328,359.

The approved budget includes a 1.29% increase in residential property tax revenue, 2.92% for non-residential commercial improved and 1.78% for non-residential large business assessment classes. This will be the first property tax revenue increase in five years.

“Similar to all municipalities in Alberta, Council faced rising inflation and other challenges with this budget,” said Mayor Debbie Baich. “During the service level review and budget deliberations we had lengthy discussions on how to keep both residential and non-residential rates as low as possible. We reviewed provincial averages and feel that a modest increase was reasonable when faced with 6.8 per cent inflation.”

Council approved the 2023 budget at its December 20, 2022 regular Council meeting. It provides Council’s direction on spending for the coming and future years and allows administration to implement Council’s directed service levels for the municipality.

Actual property tax rates will be set in the spring after the Town receives its 2023 property assessment roll. 

While property tax revenue has increased, Council has made no changes to existing utility rates. Residences with municipal solid waste collection will also receive blue bins in 2023, to manage mixed recycling materials for curbside collection. This decision was informed by the pre-budget public engagement survey and the many public requests for blue bins. 

The 2023 operating budget includes revenues of $9.3 million from property taxation (an increase of $220,000 over 2022) and $2.9 million in operating grants. Service and user fees (including utilities), permits and licenses, leases and rentals make up the balance of revenue.

Operating expense highlights include $3.8 million for protective services, $4.7 million for utilities, $2.2 million for engineering and operations and $4.9 million for recreation, parks culture and social services. 

The cost of governance (Council) is budgeted at $379,938 or 1.6 per cent of the operating budget. 

More information: 2023 Operating and Capital budget news release

Audited Financial Statements

Audited Financial Statements - opens in a new page