Despite a struggling economy with hundreds of job layoffs in parts of the province in recent months, Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood is choosing to remain optimistic.
“I think we're fortunate in Red Deer County that we are diverse,” said Wood, noting that a key sector in the county is farming and it is one that has sustained itself despite a shortage of hay for some this year and its dependence on good weather.
“As a farmer myself, I'm optimistic that particular sector - the farming sector, the ranching sector - is doing well. I try to take a look at some of the indicators that are coming forward for the upcoming year and one of the key things that I'm seeing is a positive sign. That is, interest rates look like they are going to continue to remain low,” said Wood, noting that as an important factor for local businesses to remain viable.
Wood said there are some areas of Red Deer County that are growing including Gasoline Alley on the south boundary of the City of Red Deer.
“We've had good growth there this past year and I'm continuing to see new buildings going up,” he said. “That's positive because Gasoline Alley is an area of the county that in fact, is a wealth-generating area of our municipality so that helps us keep taxes low in the remainder of the county.”
Wood points to the county budget that recently passed and said that they tried to create a budget that reflects the economic reality in the county – one where many people may not have a job.
“Our budget is actually showing a zero per cent tax mill rate increase. We're trying to make sure that we recognize that there are people in our municipality that are not as fortunate as they were a year ago,” he said, adding that while there are many people who still work in the oil industry, there are those who are looking for alternative jobs.
“They're doing what they have to do,” he said.
Job prospects in Red Deer County look good noted Wood, pointing out that those in the oil industry need to have certainty.
“At this particular point in time there are some factors that they're not sure of,” he said, including an upcoming royalty review and changes in taxation levels.
“It's important that a business is able to have the assurance and what might be coming forward into the future before they invest,” he said, noting the province's role.
“I think it's important that very soon the province sends a direction as to what they're going to do with this royalty review, so that people in our oil industry will have some idea of what's coming.
“Right now I think they're sitting in limbo waiting to see. That's important because some projects are on hold right now. And when the projects are on hold people aren't working.”
The county is also focusing on infrastructure to help the local economy.
“Our roads and our bridges, they create jobs in our communities and that's important,” he said. “We're not cutting back. We're continuing on and we recognize that we have to continue to have good infrastructure to have our economy boom.”
Wood said council is committed to helping the county over the next three years as stated in its recently passed budget, and over the long-term.
“If you take a look at our five and our 10 year (road) plans, we see no slow down,” he said. “We're only one small employer in the region but we're doing what we can.”
