Brazeau County continues to seek out and foster new economic opportunities in 2022.
In a year end interview with Big West Country, Brazeau County reeve Bart Guyon is rather proud of how consistent the County has been.
In 2015, the County made headlines by slashing taxes by 30 per cent, and offering a 30 per cent tax rebate to those who get their taxes paid off by June. Over the past six years, in light of the pandemic and economic downturns, the County has been able to maintain their low tax rates.
Guyon admits, though, that it has been difficult.
“It is kind of like we have been swimming upstream, for some time here,” says Guyon, “With the provincial downloading of all the extra costs and all the impacts – the negative impacts – of COVID, it has been difficult to say the least.”
Many municipalities have voiced concerns over the UCP government’s policies of cutting funding to municipalities, thus making municipalities bear more of the costs for basic services.
Despite that, the low taxes have made Brazeau County more attractive to investors. Many new businesses are starting to move in, and the County launched the Western Economic Corridor (WEC) in 2021. The WEC brings together industries, politicians, and municipalities to spur investment in Alberta, specifically Brazeau County.
Guyon shares that at the WEC’s inaugural conference in Aug. 2021, many cutting edge companies started taking a good hard look at Brazeau County.
“We have got all the existing resources here, we have got the existing infrastructure, like pipelines and things of that nature,” explains Guyon. “Part of that investment is already sitting in place, waiting to be reused.”
Infrastructure will also be key to Brazeau County’s continuing success in 2022, according to Guyon. The County passed its budget shortly before Christmas, and it contains more than $10 million in infrastructure projects. Guyon says at least half of that is earmarked for improving the County’s roads.
“In our county, we have got some great gravel roads, but you get one good rainstorm, and it destroys it overnight,” says Guyon.
As he looks ahead to 2022, Guyon says that the County endeavours to continue its “citizens first” philosophy.
“We try to look through the eyes of the citizens, walk a mile in their shoes, and really think about what they need and what they would like us to do.”
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