WESTLOCK – Westlock County Council approved the 2025 property tax rates under Bylaw 67-2025 following three readings completed at two meetings last week.
The first, second and unanimous consent to the bylaw took place at council’s regular meeting on April 22. The third reading was finalized during a special meeting on April 24.
“There was information requested at the Tuesday meeting on what was the impact on average tax rates,” said Chief Administrative Officer Tony Kulbisky.
Faraja Amanda, general manager of corporate services, provided updated information showing that average household assessments have increased.
In 2024, the average tax for improved residential properties was $255. For 2025, the average will increase by $95, Amanda said. The bulk of the increase — $75 — comes from the school requisition portion of the tax bill.
For farm residential properties, the average levy will rise by $255 in 2025, with $128 attributed to municipal taxes and $113 to school requisitions.
Kulbisky explained that tax bills are based on two factors: the assessment value and the tax rate. When assessment values increase and the tax rate remains the same, the tax levy goes up.
He said council's goal was to minimize the impact on taxpayers by reducing the municipal tax rates where possible.
One of council’s annual requirements is to pass a property tax rate bylaw that defines the rates used to calculate property tax notices. Part of the tax rate includes the municipal rate, which funds Westlock County’s 2025 operating budget.
The total municipal levy requirement for 2025 is $12,196,884.
The amount includes additional taxes realized from increased assessments, as outlined in the final approved operating budget earlier this month.
Other components of the property tax bill include the senior housing requisition, totaling $715,077, which will be forwarded to Homeland Housing, and the provincial education requisition, totaling $3,209,248, which will be submitted to the Alberta government.
For designated industrial properties, a separate requisition for assessment fees totals $11,384.
Administration will issue property tax notices based on the bylaw rates to generate the required levy for county operations, as well as requisitions for the Alberta School Foundation Fund, Homeland Housing, and designated industrial properties.
