Ponoka County is sitting sound, financially, with no major discrepancies to cause ratepayers alarm, according to the most recent audit report.
“The surplus is just under $1 million . . . That was transferred to reserves,” said county CAO Charlie Cutforth. With that transfer, the county has just over $12 million in reserves.
“The bottom line is we’ve got a very good audit report with minimal issues,” he added.
The report also indicated the county came in $1.4 million under the 2013 budget.
This year’s mill rate and assessment rates didn’t increase. “If there’s any variance in their tax bill, it’ll be minimal,” said Cutforth.
If there is an increase, Cutforth says, it will stem from a substantial increase in a person’s assessment, such as the construction of a garage. The school requisition could also have a small effect.
Ponoka County operates with the lowest number of staff in the province, one of the lowest— if not the lowest — tax rates, and it has no debt.