Red Deer County Budget Clears Committee; Council Secrecy Shields 'Rural Connect' Details
Budget Moves to Final Vote
Red Deer County’s Governance & Priorities Committee unanimously referred the draft operating budget and capital plan to Council for final consideration Tuesday.
Director of Corporate Services Jeremy Graves presented the plan, which dictates the county’s spending priorities and tax requirements for the coming year. The committee’s endorsement moves the document out of the drafting phase and toward formal adoption.
Hours of Closed-Door Discussions
The committee spent the bulk of the meeting—nearly four hours—in a closed session. From 11:19 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., officials met privately to discuss two items: the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) performance review and a project titled "Rural Connect."
Details on "Rural Connect" remain shielded from the public. The county cited multiple sections of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) to justify the secrecy, including potential harm to the business interests of a third party and the economic interests of the county. No public update was provided on the status or cost of the project after the committee returned to the open meeting.
Residents Denied Info on Active Investigation
Councillor Dana Depalme (Division 3) reported receiving "repetitive follow-up inquiries" from residents regarding an ongoing investigation.
Administration refused to provide a status update, stating that public comments on active files are withheld to ensure the integrity of the investigation. The nature of the investigation was not disclosed.
No County Services for Glennifer Lake
Councillor Carly Hansen (Division 5) followed up on requests for county services at Glennifer Lake. Administration confirmed the county will not be taking over service provision, stating that the existing infrastructure is privately owned.
Mayor Pushes for Expense Transparency
Mayor Brent Ramsay requested that administration begin providing monthly expense updates to members of Council. The move signals a shift toward more frequent internal monitoring of how tax dollars are used for councillor activities.
In other business, Ramsay announced the county will draft a formal letter regarding proposed electoral boundary adjustments. The adjustments could change how residents are represented at higher levels of government.
Other Business
* Fire Services: Fire Services responded to reports of smoke from a burn pile. Administration noted the smoke was caused by specific weather conditions and not a violation of fire safety protocols.
* Administrative Attendance: The meeting was attended by the full Council and top directors for operations, planning, and corporate services.
What’s Next
The draft budget will now move to a regular Council meeting for a final vote. If approved, the capital plan will set the timeline for 2026 infrastructure projects and equipment purchases.