Special Features - April 3 CFP

Page 1

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By Joni MacFarlane Editor

Where Your Friends Are..

403.582.1211

12319-20 Ave, Blairmore, AB 403.562.2111 www.myclothingchange.ca

Balanced budget calls for 3% tax hike

Your Telus Store with More

Design Stylist

Ask about Diva Days!

Vol. 1 Issue 22

Gallery of Sight and Sound

Linda Germo

We accept clothing Tues. & Fri. by appointment

This weekend is your last chance to see the work of young artists from Crowsnest Consolidated High School and Livingstone School in Lundbreck. “Emergence” is an annual show curated by art teachers Karen Tamminga-Paton and Sherry Chanin. This year’s selection features more than 30 selections of drawings, paintings and installation pieces and is on display at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery until April 6. Photo by J. MacFarlane

Moving away from the triennial concept, municipal council has based the 2014 budget on a combination of historical data, the 2013 budget and current service levels. The draft budget provides for $16.9 million in expenses funded by $7 million in revenues. Another $9.9 million is needed in property taxes to achieve a balanced budget, said Sheldon Steinke, chief administrative officer. As the tax base decreased by 2.1 per cent from 2013, property tax rates need to increase to generate the same level of tax revenue, said Steinke. “Municipal tax revenues have been increased an additional 3 per cent to retain service levels and address new initiatives”, read his report. The draft budget includes inflation adjustments of 3 per cent in salaries and wages, 5 five per cent in employee benefits and 12 per cent in municipal insurance, caused in large part from last spring’s flooding event as well as other insurance industry changes. Several initiatives are also included in the 2014 budget, among them the Hillcrest Mine Disaster anniversary for $175,000 and the addition of a Manager of Corporate Services to fulfill human resources functions and communication initiatives for a cost of $61,000 in 2014 and $122,000 in 2015. Capital projects and equipment total $7.8 million with five major projects identified for 2014. These are the Frank Wastewater Treatment plant upgrade, the Sentinel Water Treatment plant upgrade, SCADA upgrades, the Bellevue Hillcrest Lagoon restoration, and a Wastewater Collection System video inspection. Costs this year for these five projects are $6.9 million and will be funded by a combination of long term debt, grants, and local improvement taxes. A variety of smaller projects bring this year’s cost to $7.8 million. On March 28, council proposed contacting Sentinel property owners to gauge interest in funding a water treatment plant upgrade. The budget had called for a local improvement tax of $343,000 paid for by Sentinel residents. If they do not want the upgrade, the project would be brought back to council for a decision on whether to proceed or not, said Steinke. Implementation of a new Municipal Development Plan was postponed to next year, freeing up another $27,000. Cont. on page 2...

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