| Sturgeon County was on track to having a | | | | Redwater fire fight. Should that grant not come |
| balanced budget for this past fiscal year. That is | | | | through, the budget deficit will increase. |
| until the Redwater fire put the county in the red | | | | On paper the county's deficit will be listed as |
| for the second consecutive year. That natural | | | | $894,000 due to rules that affect how some |
| disaster forced county councillors to transfer | | | | $614,000 in prepaid taxes is reported. The county |
| $280,000 from a general operating fund to pay | | | | also received $12.7 million for the Fort Hills |
| the costs of fighting that fire. | | | | upgrader project and will need to start issuing tax |
| Other than that, Rolland Russell, the county's | | | | credits in 2013 or when the plant is completed, |
| financial manager, was pleased with the way | | | | what ever comes first. The county is prohibited |
| Sturgeon County worked to stay within the | | | | from crediting that money to the fund until 2013. |
| budget. The Redwater fire was beyond anyone's | | | | The money is in the account and much of it has |
| control, so the cost just had to be dealt with. | | | | been spent. |
| Percentage wise, the deficit reflects one percent | | | | With the exception of the Fort Hills funding, |
| of the county's yearly expenditures. | | | | Sturgeon County cannot be in the red for more |
| The cost of fighting the fire is expected to be | | | | than three years. Should that happen, the Minister |
| offset by a provincial grant of $400,000 to help | | | | of Municipal Affairs will take over the task of |
| pay the almost $1 million price tag of the | | | | creating a budget. |
