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City of Red Deer

City council approves budget – property tax increase of 6.15%

Published

4 months ago

5 minute read

2024 amended budget approved

(Thursday), Council finished deliberating an amended 2024 operating and capital budget, after three days of deliberations. The updated approved budget includes an increase in tax revenues of $9.3 million which is approximately a 6.15 per cent municipal property tax increase.  

“This is, without question, one of the more challenging budgets I have been part of in my time on Council,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “Over the last two days, we have had difficult conversations and in-depth debate on how to best situate our community for growth and success in a financially responsible way. Today, City Council approved a budget that aims to strike a balance – a budget that considers the tax impact at a time when inflation is significantly affecting both our citizens and the City, while continuing to invest in the programs and services our citizens need and expect in Red Deer.” 

A 6.15 per cent municipal tax increase for 2024 does not mean that each individual property tax bill will change by that amount; the final amount will be determined once requisitions are provided to The City in the spring. Individual property taxes may be lower, higher, or about the same based on how an individual property is assessed. Properties that experience a change in value below the average will see an increase that is below the average, while properties that experience a change in value above the average change will see an increase that is above the average.

“My Council colleagues and I keenly aware that any increase in costs impacts our residents, especially given today’s economic climate; however, the increased property tax increase is critical in order to ensure we can continue providing the services that keep our city running,” said Mayor Johnston.  

The approved increase of 6.15 per cent in 2024 equates to an additional $9.3 million in municipal tax revenue. In relation to a typical home assessed at $345,000 in Red Deer, this would equal a municipal property tax increase of $154.63 per year, $12.89 per month, or an average weekly increase of $2.97 towards the services Red Deerians rely on each day.  

The City of Red Deer’s budget covers the essential services residents use every day. This includes everything from the roads we drive on, the water we drink, the streetlights that guide our way, the recreation facilities we enjoy, and emergency services and municipal police who keep us safe and healthy.  

“The budget approved by City Council today considers the many external pressures we as a municipality face during times of higher costs, slower recovery, and reduced revenues. And we know we are not alone in this; we know we have citizens and businesses in our community who face these same pressures,” said City Manager Tara Lodewyk. “Administration provided a transparent and honest picture of our financial situation and the work ahead to change our path before it is unmanageable. City Council approved a budget that will enable us as an organization to continue to provide services to our community and recognized the work Council and administration needs to do to change our path forward. This budget is not just about 2024, it is about planning for the years to come.” 

Some of the highlights of the amended 2024 budget include:  

  • Funding for municipal by-election, but reduced from $450,000 to $350,000
  • Funding for an Integrity Commissioner, but reduced from $105,000 to $85,000.
  • Greater Downtown Community Development Plan
  • Software maintenance increases
  • Stormwater infrastructure
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Biosolids Lagoon Liner
  • Emergency Services CAD System Refresh 

“Over the last three days, City Council and administration worked through a budget process that focuses on core business and the critical needs of our community,” said Mike Olesen, Growth and Finance General Manager. “Working through a budget is never easy, and this year’s process was especially challenging as we worked to improve our future position. “We’re looking forward to building on this work as we develop our financial management plans and systems in the coming months.” 

For more information on the budgets, visit reddeer.ca/budget.  

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Published on May 13, 2024

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Council adopts new Zoning Bylaw

At Monday’s regular City Council meeting, City Council passed second and third reading of the Zoning Bylaw 3357/2024, replacing the former Land Use Bylaw.

The goal of the Zoning Bylaw is to reduce red tape, permit more uses in each zone and improve ease and understanding of the document. Notable updates include:

  • Reduction from 11 residential districts to 9 zones
  • Reduction from 7 commercial districts to 6 zones
  • Reduction from 5 industrial districts to 3 zones
  • More permitted uses in each zone
  • More gentle density options to provide increased housing options, including house suites, backyard suites, tiny homes, and duplexes
  • Increased building heights to 12.5m that considers sightlines and privacy of existing dwellings
  • Greater flexibility for development applications
  • Expanded definitions
  • Reduction of duplex side yards, removal of side yard setbacks on corner lots, and reduced frontage in residential narrow lots to improve competitiveness
  • New regulations to gently transition existing neighbourhoods to maintain character

Following adoption of the Zoning Bylaw, the following amendments were made by City Council.

Proposed Amendment Public Hearing Date 
Increase suites from 15% to 25% of the houses in a neighbourhood.   June 24, 2024
Allow commercial uses on the main floor of R-H Residential High Density.   June 24, 2024
Correct errors in the PS Public Service Zone use list: (*Recommended) a) Gaming and Gambling Establishment (Only at the Westerner) b) Education Primary & Secondary – Add to discretionary use list   May 27, 2024
Returning the Cannabis Retail Sales setbacks to be consistent with the current Land Use Bylaw 3357/2006   May 27, 2024

“The new Zoning Bylaw incorporates years of public feedback and best practices to make a Zoning Bylaw that will result in more housing options, easier development, and ultimately will improve our competitiveness,” said David Girardin, Major Projects Planner. “With the approval of the Zoning Bylaw today, we are not finished our community engagement as there will be future public hearings on potential amendments in the coming weeks, as well as more formal public participation for each additional phase of the Zoning Bylaw.”

The Zoning Bylaw will come into effect in 30 days. Public participation for phase two of the Zoning Bylaw will begin later this year. For more information, visit engage.reddeer.ca.

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City of Red Deer

City says Red Deer residents impressed by changes to snow and ice control program

Published on May 13, 2024

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City Council reviews pilot snow and ice control program

This past winter, The City of Red Deer piloted changes to the snow and ice control program that focused on restoring mobility sooner and providing safe, accessible and well-maintained transportation infrastructure for all.

Major changes included 24/7 operations for residential street clearing, increased traction control throughout the city, additional sidewalk, trail and staircase clearing, and decreased timelines for bus stop clearing. On Monday City Council reviewed the 2023-24 snow and ice control operational report which outlined the pilot’s successes and challenges, as well as the learnings and opportunities for improvement.

“Overall, our more responsive approach to snow and ice control resulted in better mobility for motorists and pedestrians, and a greater quality of winter road maintenance,” said Greg Sikora, Manager of Parks and Public Works. “Of the many successes of the pilot program, the community was most pleased with the noticeable improvement in traction control and our ability to clear Green Routes within six days, thanks to moving Green Route plowing to 24/7 operations.”

Improvements to pedestrian, cyclist and motorist transportation networks include:

  • Increased presence and effectiveness of pre-treating, plowing, and sanding on major arterials, hills and bridges, with two and four-hour traction control equipment cycles,
  • 5 locations of staircase clearing,
  • 43 km of neighbourhood asphalt trails cleared after each snowfall,
  • Inclusion of second side sidewalks (9 km)
  • 635 transit stop clearing: 61 high priority cleared in 1 day, 153 medium priority cleared within 3 days, an additional 421 supplemental stops cleared within 7 days.

Throughout the pilot program, The City connected with the community to get feedback on operations including regular check-ins with the Engaged Citizens Group, two broad public surveys, a transit rider survey and the Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

Overall, citizens felt arterial roadways, hills and bridges were adequately maintained, and were satisfied with the Green Route plowing operation, with little concern raised about nighttime operations and 24/7 parking bans. Residents reported a prominent level of satisfaction with the additional mobility of trails, sidewalks and staircases, and there was improved public awareness of snow clearing programs.

Additionally, a noticeable improvement in adherence to the parking ban resulted in less than 100 tickets being issued this year. Complaint call volumes and service requests for traction control also trended downward this year.

“While we’ve received positive feedback from the community, we know there is always room for improvement. Our greatest challenges to the snow and ice control program remains the variability of weather, pivoting operations from a plow based program to a traction control focus and choosing the right time to execute Green and Grey Route plows,” said Manager Sikora.

In June 2023, Council adopted the revised Integrated and Accessible Transportation Policy (IAATP), which focuses on providing the community with mobility services based on four guiding principles: safe, accessible, well-maintained and accountable.

City Council will consider the future level of service at the May 27 City Council meeting.

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