Mountain View County councillors are scheduled to vote on the county's proposed 2013 capital budget at the Dec. 12 regularly scheduled council meeting.The budget was reviewed by councillors during last week's Policies and Priorities meeting. It calls for total spending of just over $20 million.The budget calls for total expenditures on roads of $17,383,815, an increase of 19 per cent over this year's total of $14,595,000.Those expenses include $1,795,000 on gravel roads, $3,400,000 on hard surface roads, $7,360,000 on the county collector network, $3,080,000 on local roads, and $1,733,815 on bridges.During last week's meeting, councillors passed a motion forwarding the proposed capital budget to the Dec. 12 council meeting for a vote.Work on the 2013 operating budget is continuing and is not expected to be approved until early next year.“The intention is to fine-tune the operational budget some more,” said Reeve Bruce Beattie.Greg Wiens, director of corporate services, says councillors will need to pass an interim budget at the Dec. 12 meeting.“That means operations as they are now can continue after January 1 until they pass the final 2013 budget,” said Wiens.Also during last week's Policies and Priorities meeting, councillors reviewed the proposed 2013 operating budget, which calls for total expenses of $45,540,000, up from $43,439,000 in 2012.The budget outlines proposed operating expenses by the county's various departments:• CAO services expenses of $725,900, up from $650,450 in 2012.• Council expenses of $583,700, up from $545,600 in 2012.• Corporate service expenses of $3,800,690, up from $3,605,500 in 2012.• Planning and development services expenses of $1,953,150, up from $1,951,970 in 2012.• Legislative, community and agricultural services expenses of $6,699,960, up from $5,695,830.• Operational services expenses of $19,515,100, up from $19,457,650 in 2012.The 2013 tax rate will be set once the capital and operating budgets are passed, and once the county receives school and other requisitions. A vote on the 2013 tax bylaw has tentatively been set for April 7.
