April 28, 2026

Council Approves 2026 Property Tax Rate Bylaw

(Rocky Mountain House, AB) - On April 28, 2026, Clearwater County Council passed the 2026 Property Tax Rate Bylaw 256/088, establishing the tax rates required to support municipal services while responsibly planning for future infrastructure needs.

For 2026, Council approved a modest one per cent municipal tax rate increase across all assessment classes. This reflects Council’s cautious approach, recognizing that there have been seven years with no tax rate increase over the past decade. While past restraint helped limit impacts to ratepayers, it also increased the risk of deferred funding for future capital projects. The 2026 increase helps begin addressing long‑term infrastructure sustainability while remaining mindful of affordability.

Several capital projects have been postponed to 2027, allowing Council additional time in 2026 to assess needs, review priorities, and make informed decisions about future investments.

Property tax notices includes three requisitions:

• Provincial School Tax Requisition – The residential school requisition increased by approximately 3.7 per cent, while the non-residential school requisition will see a 24% increase this year. This follows a 7% decrease the previous year, even though the Province applied a 4% rate increase at that time. A significant increase for non-residential properties was expected in 2026 due to the end of the provincial tax holiday and assessment growth.
• Municipal Tax Requisition – A one per cent tax rate increase was approved to support service delivery and future capital funding.
• Seniors’ Housing Foundation Requisition – The rate decreased slightly even though the requisition increased by $58,000, bringing the total to $1.26 million. The increase supports ongoing capital upgrades at seniors’ housing facilities as they age.

“Council has worked hard to keep tax increases to a minimum over the years; however, there has been significant capital project obligations that have come with long-term financial commitments,” said Jordon Northcott, Reeve of Clearwater County. “This modest increase allows Clearwater County to address future needs in a responsible way, while remaining mindful of affordability for our residents, businesses, and the agricultural sector that our community depends on.”

Property tax notices will be mailed before the end of May, with payments due upon receipt. To help encourage payment of unpaid taxes, three penalty deadlines are set for September 18, 2026, December 18, 2026, and April 9, 2027.

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