DIDSBURY -- The Town of Didsbury held a couple of budget meetings on Jan. 31 at the town office.
The meeting consisted of two parts, a review of the 2019 proposed capital budget followed by the 2019 proposed operating budget.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said the budget process is going well.
"We had the first capital meeting in November and then the first operating meeting in December with the initial presentations," said Hunter. "They both came back on January 31. They were good. The information our CFO (chief financial officer, Amanda Riley) has provided is great. All our questions that we went back to get answered were."
The 2019 proposed capital plan has a total cost of $2,487,339. The top items included a new pumper truck for the fire department at $387,500 (for Didsbury's portion; other half paid by the county); John Deere wheel loader at $230,000 (increased by $25,000 due to increased cost since initial estimate); and Didsbury arena roof upgrades at $225,000.
There is also $40,000 for the West Heights playground project and $10,000 for the Valarosa Park project.
Major road projects are main street (20th Street) drainage/road rehab from 15th Avenue to 17th Avenue at $800,000; and 10th Street paving at $250,000.
Although $2,000,000 had been put down for the projected cost of the library expansion project, staff is recommending council not approve that project as part of the capital budget at this time.
"Administration put together a presentation on why we shouldn't pass it at this point because we need a complete financial analysis and business case," said Hunter. "The information isn't available yet because the business case and analysis hasn't been done. We want the whole business case before we make that decision."
The town previously hired and paid $60,000 to Avid Architecture to do a feasibility study including a building condition report and concept plan. There were also a couple of public workshops.
Hunter told the Gazette that all options are on the table in regards to library expansion or renovation.
"Those are the decisions facing council," she said. "We want to know what we can fit into $2 million. That's the answer. Plus there could be grants and other access to money. All that stuff has to be looked into. This council is looking into all our options. We've said it before, council is committed to seeing the project move forward but we don't know what that is yet."
Council will vote on accepting the 2019 capital budget at the Feb. 12 regular council meeting, said Hunter.
The estimated tax revenue in the proposed 2019 operating budget is $4,946,275, down $25,000 from 2018.
Hunter said that council is hoping they can keep the tax rate at or near last year's 8.3.
"I said it the other day, 'Just because we can raise taxes doesn't mean we should,'" she said. "Right now, the presentation of our assessment says our assessments are down. Looking at all the reports, the market is slow."
Hunter said it would be great if they could have no increase in the tax rate.
"Every councillor has to answer that themselves and we'll eventually come to a number," she said.
Council is expected to vote on the 2019 operating budget at the Feb. 26 regular meeting.
Hunter said one of the numbers they are looking at is the cost for the municipal development plan, which is $70,000.
"That's on the proposed budget right now," she said. "Can we access that money out of a reserve or is there money from other areas we can access without affecting the operational budget?"
Council has also asked staff to put aside $226,000 for RCMP reserve for future operational funding of policing. The town will be required to pay for its own policing beginning in April 2020 due to having a population of more than 5,000.
For 2018, Didsbury's residential municipal tax rate of 8.3 is second highest in the area. Only Penhold's at 8.7 is higher. By comparison, Olds' is 5.8, Carstairs' is 6.9 and Sundre's is 8.2.
"Our tax rate is in the top four," said Hunter. "But we have a lot here. We all have to understand the benefits we have here, all the amenities in our community. Does that mean I want the tax rate to go up? No, but that's a decision all of council will have to make. It's always a challenge to keep the tax rate livable for everybody but give our community everything we need."
The average house price for Didsbury for 2018 (as per Calgary Real Estate Board) was $275,029. The property tax for that average house ($275,029 multiplied by the mill rate of .0083) was $2,283. For 2019, the total taxes per year for the average house including water, waste water and solid waste (garbage, recycling and compost) is $3,862 or $322 per month.
The water, waste water and solid waste is based on an average water consumption of 18 cubic metres per month and based on average house values that sold during the year.
The resident tax rate does not include the requisitions for Mountain View Seniors' Housing or the Alberta Schools Fund Foundation.
