Kneehill County Council has announced there will be no increase in municipal taxes this year.
Although Kneehill County has lost significant assessment, particularly in the oil and natural gas sector, through the solid management of revenue over expenses the county remains in a good financial position.
Kneehill County has been able to maintain its high level of service to ratepayers while controlling expenses in areas that have no or minimal impact on residents.
The County continues to have an excellent road network and there are significant road construction upgrades planned for this year’s construction season.
Many residents enjoy the convenience of rural water lines. Council has dedicated almost $5 million dollars to an upgrade to the Churchill Water System which will improve the service for current users, and allow for expansion to those in the area who have not had the opportunity to connect to a County water line.
In 2018, the County has been able to expand the Peace Officer Department to provide greater enforcement visibility in rural areas. The new Kneehill County Fire Chief will be creating a long-term strategy for fire protection for Kneehill County rural and hamlet residents.
“2018 will continue to be a great year for Kneehill County and we look forward to hearing from our residents to gain feedback on the services we provide and on our overall direction,” said Deb Grosfield, Kneehill County Communications Officer.
This freeze in taxation comes after Kneehill County cancelled a $1 million fund called the Regional Resources Urban Sustainability Grant which was shared annually among towns and villages within the county to support these smaller communities. Council revealed this action was necessary in order to keep rising costs down like fuel, carbon tax, business operations and a declining assessment base.