DIDSBURY - Town council has approved a second draft of the proposed 2024 operating budget, which includes $250,000 for a sanitary lagoon maintenance program to be funded from the wastewater reserve.
The approval came by way of motion at the Jan. 23 council meeting, held in person and online. Coun. Ethan Williams did not attend the meeting.
The proposed budget was first presented at a public meeting on Nov. 30, followed by a budget meeting on Jan. 17 and further discussion last week.
Items added to the second draft include $60,000 for GIS software implementation, enhanced Christmas lights totalling $12,500, a high school scholarship program increase of $500 to $2,000 per year, and $5,000 towards the Communities in Bloom program.
Capital projects also added to the draft budget including $15,000 for the train station floor replacement project, $30,000 for a snow grader attachment, and an additional $10,000 for streetlight improvement program design for 17 Avenue to 18 Avenue.
The proposed 2024 consolidated operating budget calls for total revenues of $7,659,574, up from $7,540,245 in 2023. Utility user charges of $3,334,325 are proposed, up from $3,242,114 last year.
Expenses are proposed to be $12,865,415, up from $12,661,210. Among expenses proposed are $139,850 for training, conferences and travel, up from $137,855 in 2023.
Other proposed expenses include $297,467 for council, up from $295,572 in 2023.
RCMP, fire department and municipal enforcement expenses are proposed to be $1,992,227, an increase of 2.4 per cent from last year.
Recreational and community facilities expenses are projected to be $2,661,580, up 2.4 per cent from $2,600,054 in 2023.
Water utility, wastewater utility and solid waste utility expenses are projected to be $3,395,025, up from $3,300,114 last year.
The budget proposes a municipal tax levy of $5,205,841, up from $5,120,956 last year, representing an increase of 1.66 per cent or $84,885.
Council passed a motion approving the second draft of the 2024 operating budget.
The completed second draft of the proposed 2024 operating budget is available on the town’s website.
The proposed budget is scheduled to come back before council on Feb. 13.
