Ponoka town council approved the 2025 Town of Ponoka budget at its regular meeting this week.
“Council and administration worked hard to deliver a lean and fiscally responsible budget,” said Town of Ponoka Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sandra Lund.
“The 2025 budget reflects key priorities in the town’s strategic plan while carefully managing spending and continuing to fund essential services our citizens depend on."
The total amount of the budget is $35.78 million, which includes an operating budget of $23.6 million and a capital budget of $12.18 million.
Due to the Alberta Government’s unexpected 2025 education tax rate increase of 10.8 per cent for Ponoka residents, council lowered the municipal property tax increase to 1.25 per cent – down from the proposed 3.25 per cent increase initially approved by council last fall in the interim budget.
“We dropped the municipal portion of property taxes to 1.25 per cent to reduce the impact that the province’s 10.8 per cent increase in education tax will have on Ponoka ratepayers,” explained Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.
He noted the town is required to collect the education tax as part of the property tax bill it sends annually to residents. The education tax that is collected is then sent directly to the provincial government.
Annual property taxes also include a senior housing tax rate which the municipality is required to collect on behalf of Rimoka Housing Foundation. The 1.25 per cent increase in the municipal portion of property taxes equates to an annual increase of $10.95 per $100,000 of assessed property value for residential properties and $14.29 per $100,000 of assessed value for commercial properties.
“An increase in property assessment values across Alberta for residential and non-residential properties will also impact property taxes this year,” said Lund, explaining that property taxes are calculated based on the assessed value of each property.
On average, property assessment values increased by seven per cent last year in Ponoka.
“That amount will be higher or lower depending on the property and numerous factors such as property size, location, age and condition,” said Lund.
She noted if residents have questions about their property assessment, they can contact the town office.
In addition to funding all of the services the town delivers to the community such as clean drinking water, curbside collection of waste, recreation facilities, fire services, and policing and bylaw enforcement, the budget also invests in maintaining and upgrading key infrastructure in the community, said Ferguson.
“By continuing to invest in Ponoka’s infrastructure, the 2025 budget will help drive future growth and further enhance the quality of life that our citizens enjoy,” he said.
Highlights of the budget include:
• Highway 53 corridor improvements – the Town of Ponoka has partnered with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to complete improvements and rehabilitation of Highway 53 (between Highway 2A and 38 St.) in Ponoka.
Improvements will include new pavement and concrete repairs, intersection improvements including traffic lights at 46 St., a new multi-use trail from Highway 2A to 38 St., new street lighting, new way-finding signage, and renaming the highway to Rodeo Drive in recognition of Ponoka’s 89-year rodeo history and the Ponoka Stampede, the town’s largest tourist attraction.
Construction on the highway improvements is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2026.
The project is being funded by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, the town’s Off-Site Levy Reserve and a debenture through the town’s borrowing bylaw.
• Community safety initiatives – the town has expanded its Community Peace Officer program with a second officer being hired this year. The focus of the program is on crime reduction, crime prevention, and community safety.
• Ponoka’s annual pavement and concrete improvement program includes maintenance and improvement of roadways and sidewalks throughout the community.
• Waterworks system improvements. The Asset Management Program is expanding to include a full inspection of the storm sewer system and maintenance where needed. The program includes sanitary sewer system inspection and maintenance, ongoing equipment rehabilitation and replacement at town pump
stations and reservoirs to ensure optimum operational efficiency and reliability of the system.
The program also includes extensive planning and analysis for future improvements to the town’s Wastewater Treatment System, including a future sanitary trunk main replacement.
• Aquaplex upgrades – includes extensive upgrades to the change rooms and replacement of the pool filters to ensure ongoing optimal water filtration and operational efficiency at the facility.
• Skate park expansion – construction of the expanded multi-use skate park is expected to be completed and open to users this summer.
• New cemetery software – Includes user-friendly maps that will make it easy for citizens to find loved ones at the local cemetery and to share photos and stories on the software to celebrate memories of their loved ones.
The budget aligns with the results of the town’s annual public consultation process, noted the release.
That process included Coffee with Council events, an online budget open house, and a citizen input survey that invited Ponoka citizens to give their input on top priorities they wanted council to consider as it deliberated the budget.
The top three priorities identified by citizens are:
• community safety
• parks and recreation
• infrastructure
“Citizen input is an essential part of the budget planning process,” said Ferguson.
He noted public input and priorities identified in the budget survey results were carefully considered and addressed in the budget through ongoing upgrades and improvements to town infrastructure, planned improvements to recreation facilities, and funding for a second full-time community peace officer who will continue to support public safety in partnership with the Ponoka RCMP.
For more about property taxes, how they’re calculated, and the budget process, visit Ponoka.ca/p/property-tax-frequently-asked-questions.
