Edson Town Council has adjusted the 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets.
The Operating Budget now uses a 1 percent tax increase from the original 2020 budget, which is down from the 1.9 percent increase in taxation that was passed in December.
In order to bring the tax increase down to 1 percent, approximately $107,000 from the Fortis Franchise Fee will not be transferred to the energy reserve this year.
The Revised Capital Budget was also approved and includes a few carry-over projects from 2020, as well as Vision Park upgrades, a new Well and Washroom Facility at Vision Park, and a number of other large projects.
These projects include:
- $1,200,000 towards road recapping projects
- $1,900,000 in grant money towards stormwater mitigation
- $1,000,000 for a Degas Wellhouse and UV Upgrade.
- $1,000,000 for a Sewer Outlet Pipe (covered by grants)
- $100,000 towards 40th Street (6th Ave to Hwy 748) Design
With the taxation set, council also gave three readings to the 2021 Mill Rate Bylaw. The Town of Edson’s overall taxable assessment has decreased by 3.06 percent. This is used to generate the taxation revenue and is what drives the mill rate calculations for Municipal taxes, School, and Evergreens Requisitions. This has led to a slight increase in the municipal residential and non-residential mill rates.
2021 Residential Mill rates:
Municipal mill rate – 6.0950 mills (2020 mill rate – 5.9026 mills)
Evergreens Foundation mill rate – 0.4531 mills (2020 mill rate – 0.4452 mills)
School mill rate – 2.6854 mills (2020 mill rate – 2.5099 mills)
2021 Total Combined mill rate – 9.2335 mills (2020 mill rate – 8.8577 mills)
2021 Non-residential Mill rates:
Municipal mill rate – 14.9624 mills (2020 mill rate – 14.1031 mills)
Evergreens Foundation mill rate – 0.4531 mills (2020 mill rate – 0.4452 mills)
School mill rate – 4.0157 mills (2020 mill rate –3.6006 mills)
2021 Total Combined mill rate – 19.4312 mills (2020 mill rate – 18.1489 mills)
More details on the 2021 Budget, and a full list of capital projects, can be found at www.edson.ca/budget.
