DIDSBURY - The 2024 draft capital budget presented at the recent Didsbury council meeting outlines 19 proposed projects totalling $1.6 million
Directors of community services, engineering and infrastructure, and corporate services helped prepared the budget.
The regularly scheduled council meeting was held in person and online.
Proposed infrastructure items in the draft capital budget include 20th Avenue mill and overlay ($150,000), 15th Avenue mill and overlay ($150,000) Co-op Road (15th Avenue to 19th Street) surface work ($225,000), east reservoir design ($125,000) RV sani-dump design ($30,000).
Also included are the 21st Avenue connector - water design for 20th Street to 16th Street ($250,000), advanced metering infrastructure system - remote reading ($250,000), and 23rd Street sanitary main replacement ($85,000).
The train station flooring replacement is proposed at a cost of $40,000.
The playground replacement for Southridge Park is proposed at a cost of $65,000.
Proposed vehicle and equipment items include Didsbury Fire Department command vehicle ($150,000), JD mower replacement ($30,000), Harley rake - Bobcat attachment ($15,000), and snow wing - grader attachment ($30,000).
Meanwhile, the proposed draft operating budget, also presented to council, includes revenues before taxes of $7,568,769 (an increase of $28,515 or 0.4 per cent), expenses of $12,748,915 (an increase of $59,190 or 1.2 per cent), and requires a municipal tax levy of $5,180,146 (an increase of $59,190 or 1.2 per cent).
Expenses in the proposed budget include salaries, wages and benefits of $4,700,898, an increase of $47,778 or one per cent over 2023.
Contacted municipal policing expenses are proposed to be $697,500, an increase of $42,500 or 6.5 per cent.
Cost of water is expenses are proposed to be $1,108,380, an increase of $58,380 or 5.6 per cent.
Professional service costs are proposed to be $188,500, a decrease of $41,300 or 18 per cent.
The complete draft capital and operating budgets are available for viewing on the towns website.
Both proposed budgets were sent to the committee of the whole for review on Jan. 9, 2024.
