Corman Park property owners will see a municipal property tax hike of 2.91 per cent in 2022.
The increase is needed to maintain the current level of services and ensure infrastructure capacity keeps up with growth, according to Corman Park Reeve Judy Harwood.
In an interview following the passage of the municipality’s 2022 budget at a council meeting on Monday, December 20, Harwood said the tax hike was kept as low as possible.
“We looked at our budget very carefully,” said Harwood. “We try to be as frugal as we can and watch our ratepayers’ dollars all the time; but we still need to cover our costs and maintain the existing level of services.”
Harwood said council had a goal of keeping any tax increase to under three per cent.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic still taking its toll, this is not the time to be hitting people with a large tax increase,” said Harwood. “If we can keep our tax increase under three per cent, and still maintain and run the RM effectively and efficiently, then I’m happy with it.”
The 2.91% hike in the municipal portion of property tax translates into an increase of $49 per year for an average residential property with an assessed value of $500,000, according to the Corman Park administration. For a residential property assessed at $350,000, the tax increase would amount to $34.77 per year.
Figures provided by the Corman Park administration show that in 2022, estimated total revenues for the municipality will be $21.2 million; while total expenses are anticipated to be $20.1 million, resulting in an operating surplus of $1.1 million.
The RM is projecting a balanced budget after taking into account depreciation, loan payments, capital projects and other non-cash transfers.
“Through this budget, the RM maintains all services provided to the residents of Corman Park and will invest over $6 million in updating and maintaining the RM’s machinery and equipment and municipal infrastructure,” noted Corman Park Chief Administrative Officer Ken Kolb. “As with other municipalities across the province, it is expected costs for the RCMP will increase by more than $90,000 in 2022.”
Harwood said the RM is looking to upgrade a number of roads in the coming year as part of its capital budget.
“Dust control is always a huge, ongoing issue for ratepayers,” said Harwood. “So anytime we can upgrade from gravel to a hard-surface such as pavement or even SP90 coating, that helps.”
The RM’s 2022 Capital Plan includes:
* paving 6.4 kilometers (four miles) of Township Road 374 (Auction Mart Road) from Range Road 3062 (Highway 684 – also known as the Dalmeny Access Road) to Range Road 3070 for an approximate cost of $3.1 million;
* Upgrading the roads in the hamlet of Saddle Ridge for an approximate cost of $1.2 million;
* An additional 6.4 kilometers of road will be reconstructed under the RM’s road construction program;
* Upgrading the 33rd Street Tank Fill station;
* Replacing water meters in the hamlet of Casa Rio to an electronic reading system. (This water meter upgrade is part of a long-term plan to upgrade all RM-owned water meters to a more efficient and accurate electronic metering and reading system.)
“Corman Park will also be exploring options to upgrade its North Well west of Warman to reduce wait times and ensure the safety of water received,” said Kolb. “We’ll also be continuing with the Rural Addressing program.”
The 2022 budget includes allocations for annual renewal of a portion of its equipment fleet to provide cost efficiency. In 2022, the RM will renew three of its 12 graders at a net cost of $890,000, and renew two of its trucks at a net cost of $100,000. The RM will also invest in two new police vehicles to replace existing vehicles at a cost of $155,000.