Links:
Unfinished Business – Options for 2026 Mill Rate Bylaw:
Reeve Dafoe recommended a decrease in the mill rate and suggested working towards increasing economic development. Increases in residents and businesses, in other words, county growth, would allow for a larger tax base to draw from. To keep taxes low, he favoured keeping the $1.4M of 2026 budget items to be paid for from the reserves as there is money there.
Deputy Reeve Zilinski and Councillor Paly preferred that the county not use the reserves to pay for 2026 budget items. It should be saved for “rainy days,” emergent or other purposes. Currently in the reserves, the county has:
- $33M in restricted reserves meaning the money is allocated to specific items such as infrastructure and
- $13M is in unrestricted reserves meaning it can be used for “rainy day” purposes.
Council directs Administration to prepare a draft 2026 Mill Rates Bylaw based on Option 1, a 0% increase to all municipal mill rates.
The vote was recorded: IN FAVOUR – Deputy Reeve Zilinski, Councillor Halun, Councillor Nedeljak and Councillor Paly and OPPOSED – Reeve Trevor Dafoe
Options presented by administration for discussion. Options 1,2 and 3 were presented during the April 14 meeting, Options 4A, 4B, 5 and 6 were proposed by council during the same meeting and presented April 16.
Requisitions – Alberta School Foundation Funds (ASFF), Newthorad and DIP:
