Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter

Peace River town council has approved its 2025 operational budget, with some new projects set to be introduced.

Funded from tax-supported capital reserves is the inclusion of an E-bikes project for $12,000.

“This is a new project to purchase E-bike for community police,” explains Mayor Elaine Manzer, who says the community has been working hard to eradicate some of the issues the downtown core has been facing the last couple of years.

“We will also be replacing old computers and servers,” she adds.

The new computers will cost a total of $15,000 which will also be funded from tax-supported capital reserves.

The indoor pool will also have much anticipated repair completed in 2025, with money that had been set aside in the 2024 budget and some additional funds from the 2025 budget.

“The hot tub repairs are to be tendered and completed in 2025,” says Manzer.

“The slide is anticipated to be completed in 2026 and other work, baffles and mezzanine, will be completed in 2025.”

The total capital expenditure budgeted is $7,522,000 and will be funded by tax supported reserves, utility supported reserves, Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF formerly known as MSI), provincial grants, Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF formerly known as gas tax fund), Local Improvement Levy, Tax Supported Debt Financing, and Utility Supported Debt Financing.

Manzer says the budget is prepared with the speculation the Town will receive LBFF and CCBF similar to prior years, but if this does not happen the Town will draw from reserves.

“LGFF has provided firm figures, CCBF has not,” Manzer notes. “If not received, the project would either not proceed or be funded through reserves.”

Manzer explains there are some major capital projects that will be completed this year, all intended to improve the infrastructure of the Town’s assets.

“Major capital work is renovations to wastewater treatment plant, which is what is driving a significant portion of rate increases,” she explains.

“These are the beginnings of significant upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. It will be a multi-year project exceeding $25M, to be partially funded through provincial/federal funding,” she adds.

Council will also be allocating $1.1 million for the 101 Street slope and stormwater repairs.

“It has been a known issue since the slide began occurring,” Manzer says of the slope sliding.

“Project is to replace a damaged storm line and repair damages to the road and slope in an area where we have closed a section of road as a precaution.”

Manzer explain there is an almost $1 million increase in 2025 Utility Budget revenues, which are largely due to rate increases. She notes there are a number of contributions to capital reserves in the budget.

“MGA (Municipal Government Act) requires the Town provide a balanced budget, so expenses or revenue are recorded as contributions to/from reserve to balance,” she explains.

“Rate increases are intended to fund substantial capital expenditure. Meaningful reductions were made to operational expenses to maximize contributions to capital.”

Manzer says council worked hard to ensure there were not significant increases to taxes in the 2025 budget.

“Increases in municipal requisition held to two per cent, which is less than inflation for 2024,” she notes.

“Council reviewed the budget and recommended reductions, in addition to significant work done by administration in eliminating waste.”

Manzer says because budgeted amounts of revenue were estimated based off of a two per cent increase in 2024’s actuals, this resulted in a slight year-over-year drop in residential tax and an increase in commercial/industrial.

The complete budget can be found by interested ratepayers and residents by visiting the Town’s website at www.peaceriver.ca.