On Tuesday, April 22, Kneehill County Council passed the 2025 Tax Rate Bylaw, choosing a strategy that minimizes the impact on residents while maintaining budgeted revenues and complying with provincial legislation.
To help reduce the effect of rising costs on ratepayers, Council approved a draw of $277,650 from the Revenue Stabilization Reserve and reduced residential and non-residential mill rates in response to inflationary assessment shifts, allowing the County to uphold its $27.71 million tax revenue goal without exceeding the legislated ratio of 5:1- a requirement of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, which ensures non-residential properties are not taxed at more than five times the rate of residential properties.
Even with these mitigation efforts, a property tax increase is anticipated in 2025, driven by higher property assessments.
Additionally, there was a significant increase in the provincial education requisition—a charge set by the Government of Alberta and collected by Kneehill County on the province’s behalf. The County has no authority to adjust or absorb these requisition amounts.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep taxes manageable for residents while continuing to deliver essential services,” said Kneehill County Reeve Kenneth King. “This year, rising assessments and uncontrollable requisitions made that balance especially difficult. This strategy represents a fair and responsible solution.”
The following are estimated municipal tax impacts under the approved bylaw:
An average acreage assessed at $428,000 (up from $380,000 in 2024) will see an increase of approximately $99.
A hamlet home assessed at $178,000 (up from $160,000) will increase by about $36.
An average farm quarter section will see a $23 increase, with no change to assessment value.
A non-residential property assessed at $102,000 (up from $100,000) will see a $24 decrease in municipal taxes under this scenario.
While municipal taxes remain relatively stable, increases to the provincial education and Kneehill Housing requisitions will appear on 2025 tax notices.
These components are outside of Kneehill County’s control, and Council is required by law to collect and remit these funds.
Residents will receive a detailed tax insert along with their 2025 property tax notice explaining the breakdown between municipal taxes and provincial requisitions.

The Village of Standard is poised to see some growth this summer as it has sold out it’s residential subdivision.
The village developed the residential subdivision with eight lots years ago. However, with changing conditions and a drop in price, the lots have been snatched up.
“All the lots are all gone, and there is one small lot that is in the works, so we are just about finished,” said Mayor Martin Gauthier.
He says this is an indicator of growth, and most of the lots have been purchased by individuals, and many are committed to building right away.
“It could be a busy summer up there. I am looking forward to it,” he said.
Gauthier explains that the lots have been on the market for quite some time, and the council had commissioned a realtor to work on selling them. Eventually, they did lower the price to entice buyers.
“It is definitely going to help our tax base, said Gauthier, adding he hopes it spurs on more growth, not just residential, but commercial. The Village has also been working on an industrial subdivision.
The village is also well placed to take advantage of nearby economic growth including including the De Havilland Campus and the USG wallboard plant being developed in Wheatland County.
He adds they have more space to grow.
“We are looking into finding a developer, because we do have another 12 lots we can put in up there, but it is a little hard for the municipality to develop that,” said Gauthier.