The average Clive homeowner will only see a one per cent increase on the municipal portion of their property tax bill in 2018 after council approved its interim $1.3 million 2018 operating and capital budgets.
Council approved the interim budgets during their regular meeting Dec. 18. The village expects to collect $650,019 in property taxes in 2018. An average homeowner for a home valued at $250,000 will pay about $22 more annually.
“The actual increase to the average homeowner will depend on the assessment growth in Clive, if growth is one per cent then the average homeowner will not have a change in the municipal portion of their property tax bill,” said Clive Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Carla Kenney. “If growth is 0.5 per cent, then the average homeowner will pay $11 extra in municipal property taxes for 2018.”
Council has approved a budget with increased water revenue of 11 per cent, following a plan of gradually increasing the water revenue to be able to achieve full cost recovery of Hwy12/21 rates over five years.
The additional annual revenue will be used to fund capital upgrades to Clive’s water distribution system.
The residential water rates for 2018 will be set at the Jan. 8 council meeting.
A date for Clive’s connection to the Hwy 12/21 water line has not been determined. Clive’s current treatment and well water supply is meeting the needs of the community.
Increasing rates gradually eases the burden for residents, said Coun. Jeremy Whelan.
“I’m confident we took the right approach.”
The Hwy 12/21 Regional Water Services Commission includes Lacombe County, Camrose County, Town of Bashaw and Villages of Ferintosh, Alix, Edberg and Clive.
The village needs to collect $151,896 in 2018 for the same amount in expenses.
Sewer and garbage rates will go up five per cent in 2018.
About $255,000 will be spent on the roads department that will see several projects moving forward. Fifty-second St. and 49 Ave. is slated to be paved.
The village will put $10,000 in reserves towards the future replacement of SCUBA bottles for the fire department. A permanent generator will be purchased for the Emergency Management Department at a cost of about $20,000.
Lisa Joy
ECA Review
