DIDSBURY - Town council has approved the 2022 operating budget which calls for total expenditures of $12,097,450, up from $11,640,764 last year.
The move came by way of motion during the May 10 council meeting, held in person and on YouTube.
A projection of revenues and expenditures, the budget calls for revenues from tax of $4,923,996, up from last year’s total of $4,727,454 or 4.2 per cent.
“I am pleased,” said Town of Didsbury Mayor Rhonda Hunter. “We are looking at growth and the cost of growth and the service levels expected and our infrastructure that is so important to our community. It is the cost of growth and providing the expected levels of service in our community.
“We added on a position for half a year for municipal enforcement because our community is indicating that need. And policing costs with that new union agreement added another $53,000 to our budget.”
On the expenditures side of the budget, salaries and benefits in 2022 will be $4,277,560, up from $3,760,863 in 2021.
Utilities expenses will be $720,150, compared with $641,969 in 2021.
Municipal policing contract expenditures will be $539,000, compared with $452,399 in 2021.
Repairs and maintenance will be $724,250, compared with $949,931 last year.
Training, conferences and travel will be $143,973, compared with $74,288 in 2021.
Advertising and printing will be $107,125, compared with $97,974. Professional services expenditures will be $308,420, up from $240,996 last year.
Insurance expenses will be $171,870, compared with $157,089 last year.
Long-term debt repayment expenses will be $544,505, compared with $594,168 in 2021.
A total of $1,236,073 is going to reserve, compared with $3,131,285 last year.
On the revenue side, net municipal taxation will be $4,923,996, compared with $4,739,189 in 2021, while utility user charges will be $2,960,432, compared with $3,056,832 last year.
Licences and permits revenue will be $130,000, compared with $90,025 in 2021.
The complete budget is available for viewing on the town’s website.
The proposed 2022 tax rate bylaw, which received second reading on May 10, calls for a residential mill rate of 8.02365, down about one per cent from 2021, and a non-residential rate of 9.04685, up about one per cent from 2021.
Council will consider third reading of the tax rate bylaw on May 24.
