Share 2023 Budget on FacebookShare 2023 Budget on TwitterShare 2023 Budget on LinkedinEmail 2023 Budget link
The 2023 Budget was approved by Council on December 15, 2022. View the menu for more information on the approved budget.
Creating the County’s annual budget is a process that takes several months and input from all departments before being approved by Council.
Every municipality in Alberta must create a budget each year, but there cannot be a planned surplus or deficit. This makes budgeting a delicate balance as projects and initiatives must be prioritized based on limited resources. Added challenges include inflation, increased demand for higher service levels, downloading of costs from other levels of government, increasing utility prices, and reductions in grant funding. The County must decide what projects to take on, while keeping tax rates and user fees reasonable.
The budget is split into an operating and a capital budget, which determine what projects will be done throughout the year based on the needs of the County and funds available.
Operating Budget
This budget includes our everyday operations, like:
Agricultural education and workshops for producers
Sidewalks, sewer, and water systems in hamlets
Water and wastewater testing and utility management
Fire protection through contracts with local departments
Bylaw enforcement
Park and playground maintenance in hamlets and subdivisions
Garbage collection in hamlets
Planning and development services
Administration of County operations (management of projects, grant applications, accounting, customer service, GIS mapping, etc.)
The operating budget also includes costs that the County is required to contribute to other organizations or levels of government, such as:
Recreation in neighbouring municipalities
Provincial policing costs
Community associations within the County
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
Lethbridge Regional Waste Management Services Commission for transfer stations and recycling
Chinook Arch Regional Library
Operations are funded through several sources:
Property taxes
Grants
User fees
Service agreements
Fines/penalties
Transfers from reserves
Return on investments
Capital Budget
This budget includes:
Road and bridge replacement
Large paving projects
Vehicle and equipment purchases
Playground replacement
Capital projects are funded through:
Grants
Transfers from reserves
Proceeds on disposal of retired equipment
Debentures
Capital projects are not funded with property taxes.
2023 Budget Process
The budget process involves making many decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly and efficiently. View the menu on this page for videos of budget review and deliberation. Meeting live-stream links are included under "Key Dates".
The 2023 Budget was approved by Council on December 15, 2022. View the menu for more information on the approved budget.
Creating the County’s annual budget is a process that takes several months and input from all departments before being approved by Council.
Every municipality in Alberta must create a budget each year, but there cannot be a planned surplus or deficit. This makes budgeting a delicate balance as projects and initiatives must be prioritized based on limited resources. Added challenges include inflation, increased demand for higher service levels, downloading of costs from other levels of government, increasing utility prices, and reductions in grant funding. The County must decide what projects to take on, while keeping tax rates and user fees reasonable.
The budget is split into an operating and a capital budget, which determine what projects will be done throughout the year based on the needs of the County and funds available.
Operating Budget
This budget includes our everyday operations, like:
Agricultural education and workshops for producers
Sidewalks, sewer, and water systems in hamlets
Water and wastewater testing and utility management
Fire protection through contracts with local departments
Bylaw enforcement
Park and playground maintenance in hamlets and subdivisions
Garbage collection in hamlets
Planning and development services
Administration of County operations (management of projects, grant applications, accounting, customer service, GIS mapping, etc.)
The operating budget also includes costs that the County is required to contribute to other organizations or levels of government, such as:
Recreation in neighbouring municipalities
Provincial policing costs
Community associations within the County
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
Lethbridge Regional Waste Management Services Commission for transfer stations and recycling
Chinook Arch Regional Library
Operations are funded through several sources:
Property taxes
Grants
User fees
Service agreements
Fines/penalties
Transfers from reserves
Return on investments
Capital Budget
This budget includes:
Road and bridge replacement
Large paving projects
Vehicle and equipment purchases
Playground replacement
Capital projects are funded through:
Grants
Transfers from reserves
Proceeds on disposal of retired equipment
Debentures
Capital projects are not funded with property taxes.
2023 Budget Process
The budget process involves making many decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly and efficiently. View the menu on this page for videos of budget review and deliberation. Meeting live-stream links are included under "Key Dates".
Page last updated: 24 May 2023, 11:23 AM
2023 Approved Budget
A message from Reeve Tory Campbell on the approved 2023 Budget
Click here to play video
Reeve Tory Campbell discusses the 2023 Budget