Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County Reeve Tyler Airth says preparing a 2025 final operating budget was a challenge during difficult economic times.
“Council supported maintaining the municipal mill rate at its current level to provide stability for residents and businesses during a time of economic uncertainty,” Airth says.
“While administration recommended a modest 0.5 per cent increase during interim budget deliberations, council ultimately chose to hold the line on taxation as a way to offer predictability and confidence to the community.”
The decision reflects council’s priority to balance prudent financial management with affordability to ratepayers, he says.
“The operating budget reflects council’s continued commitment to providing stable, reliable services to residents without compromising quality or increasing the tax burden,” Airth says.
“We are proud to deliver a balanced budget that maintains programs and services with no reductions to frontline service delivery.
“Our focus has been maintaining fiscal discipline while continuing to support core infrastructure, community services and economic development.”
Budget planning was shaped by several important considerations.
“Key challenges, included rising inflationary pressures, increased costs in contracted services and materials and the ongoing need to maintain and upgrade aging infrastructure,” Airth says.