Big Lakes County is committed to providing stakeholders with relevant and reliable information to support decision-making. The documents below include the consolidated financial statements of the county and provide an account of the stewardship of our financial activities in support of delivering programs and services to residents, businesses, and industry.

The consolidated financial statements for Big Lakes County are prepared in accordance with Public Sector Accounting Standards established by Chartered Professional Accountants Canada, and audited by independent private-sector auditors. The financial statements and auditors’ report satisfy a legislative reporting requirement as set out in the Municipal Government Act of Alberta.

The attached files are a detailed estimate of the County’s known expenses, expected future costs, and forecasted income over the course of the operating year.

The operating budget deals with the day-to-day costs required to run the county: maintaining roads and facilities, providing fire rescue services, as well as providing social programs and leisure activities to make Big Lakes County a great place in which to live, work and visit. The operating budget identifies the costs for these services and the sources of revenue to pay for the services, including property taxes, utility rates and user fees.

The capital budget is for the new infrastructure that the county builds such as roads, bridges, water treatment facilities, and fire halls. The county invests in new infrastructure every year to meet the needs of a growing population and economy, and repairs existing infrastructure to maintain the high standards that county residents expect. The main funding sources to build and renew the infrastructure required for a progressive and modern municipality include grants from provincial and federal governments, the County’s reserves, and debt financing.

County council and administration begin planning for the two budgets well in advance. Council establishes budget guidelines to help determine priorities, which Administration uses to prepare draft budgets for Council to review and finalize in November and December.

Fee Schedule

The following Schedule of Fees establishes the amount in which Big Lakes County may charge for the supply of information, goods, and services.

Please note the Regional Waste Management Schedule of Fees is under Waste Management.

For information on fees not included in this listing, please contact the Main Administration Office at 780-523-5955.

Purchasing & Procurement

As a local government, Big Lakes County’s purchasing functions are subject to the terms and conditions of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) as well as internal policies. The NWPTA requires open and non-discriminatory procurement where anticipated costs are at or above the following thresholds:

  • $75,000 or greater for goods
  • $75,000 or greater for services
  • $200,000 or greater for construction

When the County’s anticipated purchases are at or above those thresholds, it will post public tender documents on the Alberta Purchasing Connection and/or other relevant trade publications. For smaller-value purchases, county policy is to solicit quotes to ensure the best use of public funds. Vendors will note that the County’s standard payment terms are net 30 days. For more information, contact [email protected].