April 24, 2025

Council Approves 2025 Property Tax Rates with Zero Per Cent Tax Rate Increase

(Rocky Mountain House, AB) – On April 22, 2025, Clearwater County Council passed the 2025 Tax Rate Bylaw 25/003, keeping to a zero per cent tax rate increase across all assessment classes.

Administration’s preparation of the first draft of the annual Tax Rate Bylaw for the 2025 tax year provided critical insights into the County’s financial landscape. While a change in assessment base shows increased tax revenue over 2024, Council cautiously considered rising inflationary pressures, as well as an ambitious and ever-growing list of capital projects.

Residents will see three requisitions on their property tax notices, each carefully calibrated to meet the evolving needs of Clearwater County residents and businesses:

Provincial School Tax Requisition: School requisitions have increased $2,616,395.08 or 12 per cent, driven by the growth in the equalized assessment base from 2022 to 2023, combined with a tax rate increase from the provincial government. School requisitions total $21,612,379.

Municipal Tax Requisition: A zero per cent tax rate increase across all assessment classes.

Seniors Foundation Tax Requisition: The Seniors Foundation Tax Requisition from the West View Lodge has increased by $79,259, totalling $1,305,409. While the requisition amount has increased, the rate has decreased by just under five per cent due to the increase in non-residential assessment that is senior’s foundation taxable.

Clearwater County will also be collecting a Designated Industrial Property (DIP) Assessment Tax Requisition on behalf of the Province of Alberta. This requisition rate has decreased and based on Clearwater County’s equalized assessment, the total DIP requisition for 2025 is $480,652.

“Clearwater County Council is committed to managing finances responsibly,” said Michelle Swanson, Reeve of Clearwater County. “Although a tax rate increase would be warranted with an ever-growing list of capital projects and inflationary challenges, Council overall favoured a zero per cent tax rate increase, noting how the challenging economic climate is already a burden on ratepayers.”

Property tax notices will be mailed mid-May, with payments due upon receipt.

To help encourage payment of unpaid taxes, three penalty deadlines are set for September 19, 2025, December 19, 2025, and April 10, 2026.

To learn more, visit www.clearwatercounty.ca/p/property-taxes.

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Media Inquiries:

Clearwater County Communications

communications@clearwatercounty.ca

403-845-4444