The 2018 Interim Operating Budget was the main topic for the final council meeting of the year on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017.
Council uniamously passed an Interim Operating Budget of $100-million for the first quarter of 2018.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires that every Alberta municipality approve a budget prior to passing a property tax bylaw.
Approving a budget prior to the start of the budget year allows municipalities to avoid delays or disruptions in planned activities for the upcoming year. The approval of an interim operating budget will ensure that funding is in place for operations while a series of budget workshops allow Council and the public an opportunity to engage.
Public information sessions will be held in January 2018 to discuss the budgeting process, the importance of the budget and how residents can be involved with extensive information also available online as it becomes available.
“As your Council, we are committee to being transparent and accountable to residents,” said Mayor Scott. “Now that an Interim Operating Budget has been approved, we want to take this opportunity to highlight the budget process and invite residents to stay engaged through the deliberations in early 2018.”
Following a series of budget workshops to be held January 24 – 27, 2018, administration will present the 2018 Operating Budget to council for approval along with the 2019 – 2020 Financial Plan tentatively for the Feb. 13, 2018 council meeting.
The Municipality must also proceed with the public sale of 54 properties, that did not pay their tax arrears as of Nov. 15, 2017. The outstanding balance from the properties amount to $387,991.80. Council will establish reserve bids and any terms and conditions that apply to the sale of the land. The Municipality will offer the following lands for sale by public auction, in the Jubilee Building, third Floor, Meeting Room 305, on Friday, March 30, 2018 at 10 a.m.
Council reviewed the 2017 request of tax and account receivable arrears write-off for accounts deemed uncollectible and amendments to the 2017 capital budget.
Administration has identified six capital projects to be submitted amendment consideration, will a full budget impact of $5,331,559. The projects included the purchase of a pump and roll tanker, rural pump and roll pumper truck, three wild land sprinkler trainers, two wild land skid units which will all be funded through the Canadian Red Cross and updates to the Water Treatment Plant which will be funded by the Capital Infrastructure Reserve (CIR). The Fort Chipewyan Animal Control Centre was another project under review but required no change to the budget.
An update was given on the 2017 third quarter capital budget fiscal amendments. A total of six capital projects were amended in the third quarter of 2017 resulting in a net increase of $4,420,633 to the capital budget. The projects include the Birchwood Trail lookout tower, construction and upgrade of the Timberline storm water, transit bus additions, phase two of the upgrade to the Conklin Water Treatment Plant, construction of the Dog Barnes Cabin expansion and the purchase of specialised transit bus replacements.
In addition to the budgeting, council also reviewed two bylaws. The first reading of a land use bylaw was discussed that will see a portion of residential Fort Chipewyan be made into commercial, so the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation can develop a second grocery store on the land. A public hearing will be held on January 9, 2018 to further discuss the matter.
The second bylaw, the committees’ bylaw, was read for a final time. Some of the council committees will be re-aligned to maintain public involvement and require less volunteers to fill committee meeting requirements. The bylaw will also eliminate several committees that are redundant or no longer functioning.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers at Jubilee Plaza.
