Mountain View County’s policies and priorities committee has been given a report on the factors that may affect the county’s 2019 budget.
The update came during the committee’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
Called an environmental scan, the report was prepared and delivered by Robert Beaupertuis, director of the corporate services department.
The report deals with provincial grants, linear assessment, residential assessment, non-residential assessment, machinery and equipment assessment, property taxes, service levels and land use.
“Mountain View County is a county that currently has a strong financial position and is providing a high level of service to its ratepayers relative to its population and building density,” said Beaupertuis.
“In determining the future of service levels, it is important to take into consideration a multitude of factors. Factors to be included in an environmental scan include both external and internal to the county.
“At this point in time, there are still many unknowns, but it is anticipated there are some challenges ahead during this budget cycle.”
Regarding linear assessment, Beaupertuis states, in part, that, “The biggest area of concern and most important factor in our budget this year is the base year modifiers. The province must set these modifiers; last year they broke from past practice of following the information that was collected by their consultants and froze the rates instead of the increase that was recommended.
“This has created a great deal of uncertainty in predicting where linear assessment is going.”
Regarding residential assessment, he states, in part, that, “Residential assessment has been trending upwards for the last five years. However, this year it is expected that the total assessment will remain flat. This is mostly caused by inflation factors where houses and land are selling for less than their previous assessments and there is little growth to offset this loss.
“Building permit revenue is down in 2018 – the period ending August 31 – by 15 per cent. But it is believed to be enough to offset market loss. For the most part, growth has been positive except for the period of 2011 to 2013.”
Regarding non-residential assessment, he states, in part, that, “This category is difficult to forecast due to the lack of sales to verify but overall it is anticipated that assessment will decrease by one per cent this year.
“It is anticipated that the province will institute a change in how land is assessed associated with well leases. There have not been any large ‘real growth’ additions to warrant a forecast of any growth.”
Regarding machinery and equipment assessment, he states, in part, that, “Machinery and equipment have been trending downward for most of recent history but last year saw a small increase to the assessment. It is expected that the assessment will remain flat this upcoming year.
“While oilfield activity has increased, one larger gas operator is removing numerous separator packages which will offset growth.”
The committee accepted the report as information.
Oversized load routes studied
Meanwhile, county officials will meet with Alberta Transportation project engineers to provide input on a recently completed oversize load study.
The meeting was set up way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled policies and priorities committee meeting in council chambers.
During the meeting, Kim Durdle, director of transport engineering with Alberta Transportation, outlined the findings of the study, which examined possible new routes for heavy transport traffic in the region.
The study examined current permitting, legislation, corridors now used for oversize loads, design recommendations.
The existing high load corridors in the region were designated in the 1970s and 1980s
The committee instructed county CAO Jeff Holmes to arrange a meeting with project engineers where the county officials will gather further information about the before reporting back to council. A formal submission of county input could then follow.
As well as county officials, officials from other area municipalities will also be invited to attend the meeting with the project engineers.
