CARSTAIRS - Residents of Carstairs received an early Christmas present when the town passed the 2017 budget: a drop in the mill rate. The mill rate bylaw and budget were both passed at the regular council meeting on March 27.
The 2017 mill rate for residential homeowners is set at 6.90, while the rate for non-residential (commercial/industrial) is 8.50. The Alberta School Foundation Fund rate is 2.44 with a requisition of $1,262,963.68 for residential and $219,063.89 for non-residential, and 0.15 is for Mountain View Seniors' Housing authority with a requisition of $83,933.46.
CAO Carl McDonnell said that the budget process went smoothly. He added that it was nice to be able to offer residents a lower mill rate particularly in tougher economic times.
"We started in September with budget deliberations and then we had to wait for the provincial budget to come through for the requisitions," said McDonnell. "We're looking at a revenue of $10,788,000 and expenses of $10,750,000 so we're budgeting about a $38,000 surplus for the year and with that goes the mill rate which sets the tax rate."
The estimated municipal expenditures and transfers set out in the budget for 2017 total $10,787,898.70.
The estimated municipal revenues and transfers from all sources other than taxation is estimated at $5,182,824.55 and the balance of $5,605.074.15 is to be raised by general municipal taxation.
The amount of taxes paid is a result of the 2017 assessed property value multiplied by the mill rates.
In comparison, in 2016 the mill rate for residential was 7.10 and for non-residential was 9.10. The Alberta School Foundation Fund rate was 2.38 for residential and 3.60 for non-residential.
"Once we set the tax rate we could pass the budget," said McDonnell. "Our goal was to at least maintain the tax rate given the current conditions, but the fact that we could lower it made a big difference."
McDonnell said that now that the budget is set staff will be looking at which roads and sidewalks most need to be replaced.
"We'll then put it out to tender and depending on the tender prices we'll see how much we can get done," he said.
In other council news, council heard a presentation from Didsbury RCMP Sgt. Kimberley Pasloske who talked with council about policing priorities for the area.
Pasloske also told council they wanted to have pedal bike patrols in Carstairs. Council agreed to purchase two bikes.
"She also had our policing stats as well," said McDonnell. "She said there is about a 25 per cent decrease in activity in Carstairs over the last quarter compared to the previous year. Council was pretty happy with that. The enhanced police with their increased visibility seem to be doing a great job."
Council passed first reading of Bylaw No. 1038 - ATCO Gas pipeline renew agreement and confer franchise fee.
Council also accepted the updated 2017 transportation master plan.
