Rocky View County council approved an interim operating and capital budget, as a number of unfinished initiatives have stalled the budgeting process.
The Reeve’s Task Force, Open Space Master Plan, Agricultural Master Plan, Community Needs Assessment and an amenity study are just a few of the projects the County currently has underway and contain information council deems vital to determining the new budget.
“This is a way for a municipal government to allow enough time to do the budgeting process properly,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown.
“We have had a lot of orientation, organization and strategic planning meetings and that has caused us to not be able to give the budget the time it needs.”
The interim budget allows the County to collect revenue and continue spending until the formal document is put in place on or before March 31.
According to Kent Robinson, Rocky View’s business services director, the budget is usually complete by Dec. 31, but the practice of passing an interim financial plan is not uncommon. Rocky View’s last interim budget was presented in 2008.
“There is nothing really earth-shattering about it,” said Robinson.
“It just gives council an opportunity to step back and look at the strategic direction and spend more time looking at the budget.”
Ashdown said council will begin the budgeting process in January, which will proceed quickly because of the County’s practice of creating a three-year proposed budget.
“That way you can consider projects that are on the books,” said Ashdown.
Council will attempt to keep tax increases as low as possible, he added.
“Last year, there was no increase, so that puts more pressure on it this year,” said Ashdown. “Our tax diversification, that we have had recently, allows us to keep (tax increases) lower than many other municipalities.”
