Rocky View County’s base operating and capital budget was approved by council on Dec. 10, and rate payers should expect about a three per cent increase in taxes for the 2014 year.
“That would cover inflationary cost increases and strategic priorities,” Manager of Business Services Barry Woods told council during his presentation of the 2014 Draft Base Budget, adding tax rates aren’t set until April.
“RVC faces the same challenges with growth and inflation that other communities in Alberta face, but we have been able to respond with low tax increases over the past few years,” stated Reeve Margaret Bahcheli in a press release.
The base operating and capital budget is set at about $139.5 million, up from $135.9 million in 2013.
It allocates spending for existing County services such as road maintenance and repair, law enforcement and fire services, and recreation and family support programs.
A budgeted $15.8 million has been set aside for capital expenses and for the completion of several multi-year projects. Highlights include: the Balzac Fire Headquarters; water and wastewater projects in Conrich, Bragg Creek and Elkana; the Bearspaw Fire Station; and 13 road construction projects.
The capital expense budget is down from $37.5 million in 2013. Woods said the decrease is due to the difference in percentage of capital projects completed over the two years.
The base budget is the second of five steps as part of the County’s approval process. Beginning in the new year, councillors and administration will review and prioritize current and future unfunded capital and operating costs “to determine the most effective and efficient allocation of the projected budget surplus,” stated a County report.
The $390,600 surplus shown in the draft base budget will be allocated to new initiatives. According to a County press release, “there is currently a list of about two dozen potential new initiatives, with projected costs in the millions of dollars.”
“With so much demand for new initiatives in 2014, it will be interesting to finalize which projects we’re going to fund,” said Bahcheli.
Administration will create and publish a budget package, including operation plans, once the new priorities are set. The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the budget package in March 2014.
“The public input we receive will be an important part of making sure we have things right, and will inform the prioritization and funding of new projects across the County,” said Bahcheli.
Council will vote to approve any budget adjustments and external requisitions in April, and approve the 2014 Tax Rate Bylaw.
At the Dec. 10 meeting, council also approved 2014 funding recommendations provided by the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Board. A provincial and County initiative, FCSS provides funding for preventative community-based social support programs that provide solutions to local social issues.
The funding is subject to 2014 budget approval and receipt of the Provincial grant money. The Province of Alberta provides 80 per cent of the program funding, which is dispersed by the County quarterly.
The funding recommendations total $657,500 for 15 projects, including:
• $100,000 for the Airdrie Boys and Girls Club
• $75,000 for the Chestermere Community Services
• $91,000 for the North Rocky View Community Links Outreach and Communication Project
• $60,000 for the Langdon Synergy group
• $50,500 for the Western Rocky View Family and Community Resource Centre Community Support Program
