Red Deer County property owners are getting a clearer picture of their tax bills this year, along with a signal that the municipality is working to trim paperwork for development. The county has released its June 2026 newsletter, which spells out the newly approved budget and a push to simplify land-use rules.
The Red Deer County council passed the 2026 tax rate bylaw on April 28, locking in a total tax collection of $58.1 million. While residential and business property tax rates will stay frozen, farmland properties face a 15 percent mill rate hike. That means farmers will pay more, though the rate for most other property owners remains unchanged from last year.
However, many residents will still see higher tax bills because property assessments have climbed and the province is charging the county more. The education property tax requisition jumped 11.52 percent, adding $2.54 million, and provincial police funding rose 17.27 percent, tacking on another $292,215. The county’s director of corporate services, Jeremy Graves, noted these provincial increases are a big reason bills are going up.
Tax payments are due by June 30, and any balance left after that will get hit with a six percent penalty on July 1, with more penalties on November 1 and March 1 next year.
On the red tape front, the county is hosting a public open house on June 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Red Deer County Centre. Officials want to hear from people about proposed changes to the Land Use Bylaw that would streamline approvals and cut needless hurdles for property owners trying to build or modify.
A fire restriction has been in place since April 30 because of dry, windy weather. Since May 1, county firefighters have responded to 23 outdoor fires, many sparked by burn barrels or old fires that flared up again. Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere said most were human-caused and put homes at risk. The restriction bans all new outdoor fires and stops the county from issuing any new fire permits until conditions improve.
The newsletter also gives a nod to Emergency Preparedness Week, which ran from May 3 to 9 with the theme “Be prepared,” helping residents understand local risks and plan for emergencies. Public hearings are set for June 16 at the county council chambers, including one about guaranteeing a $5 million line of credit for Rural Connect’s transit services.
Looking ahead, the county’s Farm to Table Tour returns on Friday, August 14. The event includes bus visits to three local farms and meals cooked by six chefs using regional ingredients.
