Ray Danyluk told the POST this morning that the discussions over the Primrose Air Weapons Range — and more importantly, the industrial tax revenue it generates — have concluded with Alberta's Cabinet ministers signing an agreement that will take the land out of Lac La Biche County. And while the land mass is gone, Danyluk assures that the agreement keeps the dollar values in place, and includes the potential for even more revenues for Lac La BIche County. "This is a great deal for Lac La Biche," said Danyluk Friday morning. "To me, this deal is truly headline material." Although the deal is the headline, the body copy of the story is equally eye-catching. "The first part is that Lac La Biche will be receiving an area north of the air weapons range," Danyluk said, explaining that the area, which covers land south of Conklin, currently brings in about $5 million in industrial taxes — but has the potential for much more. "There is a great potential for long term gains." The industrial taxes currently received by the county from the air weapons range oil and gas activity is approximately $17 million per year. The municipality will still see at least that much money continuing to flow into its coffers, said Danyluk. "The funding will be shored up." How the funding formula will play out is still not being disclosed, but the MLA says the continued hard work of Lac La Biche County's senior administrators will finalize the figures in the very near future. The MLA was also pleased to announce that Lac La Biche County will now have a split mill rate when it comes to industry and business taxation. This means, he said, any mill rate changes to industrial taxpayers within the municipality will not directly affect the amount of taxes that local businesses pay. "This is very positive for the local businesses," Danyluk said. As to what happens to the land mass that is the air weapons range, the MLA said there are still high level discussions taking place about the transfer of the land. For now, he said, the range will belong to the province before it is dispersed to Cold Lake. The issue and debate over the bombing range has been ongoing for several years. The range was originally given to the Lac La Biche municipality when the former MD of Bonnyville split, eventually creating Lakeland County. At the time, the range was little more than unused pasture land. As more oil and gas development took hold of the land, its value grew and the tax dollars attracted officials from the cash-strapped City of Cold Lake. The POST will have more in Tuesday's edition with comments from Lac La Biche County officials and other community members. Stay POSTED
