Brazeau County council has passed the final 2026 Operating Budget with no increase to the municipal tax rate.
Despite the move, resident property tax bills will increase due to provincial requisition changes. Altogether, the county says residents will contribute an additional $1.8 million in provincial taxes, which will be collected through the municipal property tax bill on the province’s behalf. The county notes, it does not influence provincial tax rates, nor does it have access to the money collected through those rates.
While the municipal property tax rate will stay the same this year, council did lower the early-payment tax incentive rate. Residential and farmland property owners who pay their municipal taxes before June 30 will see a 20 per cent reduction to the municipal portion of their taxes.
“We have found a balance between reducing the operating budget, investing in capital projects, and keeping more money in ratepayers’ pockets with the tax incentive,” says Reeve Bart Guyon. “Although there was a lobby effort to maintain a 30 per cent tax incentive, council approved a 20 per cent incentive for 2026.”
This is the 10th year the incentive has been offered to residents.
The budget was approved at $50,457,897 in projected revenues and $46,173,645 in projected expenses, including requisition costs.
The budget also includes $7.6 million in capital investments in roads, equipment replacements and other infrastructure, such as:
- Rehabilitation of the Brazeau Dam spillway bridge
- Rehabilitation of the Lindale bridge
- Reconstruction and replacement of Township Road 495 between Range Roads 71 and 73
- Playground resurfacing and shower house replacement at Pihtokwe Campground
- Electrical upgrades at Willey West Campground
- Increased funding to the Drayton Valley and Breton libraries
- Grant matching funding for the replacement of the boiler at Lodgepole Hall
- Equipment replacement
“We have prioritized critical infrastructure projects to keep our county moving and thriving, and have put almost $3 million into targeted reserves for use in the future,” Guyon comments.
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