Increased taxes for Spruce Grove residents

Last night, Spruce Grove’s city council approved the 2010 Corporate Plan.  The plan aims to maintain current city services, as well as introduce new initiatives.  These include economic and business development, an affordable housing project, a regional review of FCSS services, and potentially new funding for  “environmental strategies”.

The overall tax increase for property owners will be 3.9 per cent.

Utility rates will increase by 15 per cent.  For the average household this translates to an additional $7.50 per month.  This increase includes the cost of water and sewer services.  There was no increase for waste collection.

All three municipalities have recently approved residential tax increases.  Here is the summary (from highest to lowest):

Parkland County: 5.37%
Spruce Grove: 4.9%
Stony Plain: 3.5%

Each council is claiming that these tax hikes are needed to cover deficits caused by the global recession.