Red Deer County council approves 2015 budgets

Red Deer County council has passed the municipality's 2015 operating and capital budgets totalling $67,710,865 which is down from $73,599,086 in 2014.

The approvals came by unanimous votes during the council's regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 9.

Mayor Jim Wood says although tax rates will not be set until the spring, he was prepared to make an estimate with the passing of the capital and operation budgets.

"We haven't set any mill rates, but what we are expecting to see right now is that a normal tax increase would be around the level of inflation," Wood said. "All we can do is make predictions and I'm guessing it will be in that 2.7 to three per cent range, but that is only a preliminary estimate.

"We still don't have in all of our final numbers for the amount of growth that we have within our municipality, and our assessments are based on two things: the value at the middle of the year and also the stage of development at the end of the year."

The operating budget calls for spending of $46,425,598 in 2015, up from $45,441,289 in 2014, while the capital budget calls for spending of $20,530,588 next year, down from $27,437,553 in 2014.

Capital budget highlights for 2015 include $6 million for the road paving program, $4.1 million for bridge repairs, $1.7 million for airport expansion, $1.5 million of reclamation of the Kevisville landfill, and $1.1 million for support of the Sylvan Lake Multiplex project.

"We've got a really good budget this year that I believe is achievable and within the means of the county," he said. "The budget will be able to ensure that we continue to provide the service that we have been providing.

"Plus I think it shows that we are committed to working with other communities in our region, like the Sylvan Lake multiplex and the airport."

Although the province didn't fund the local bridge program in 2013 and 2014, the $4.1 million budgeted by the county for 2015 should be able to cover needs, he said.

"We are confident that we are able to meet all our needs and keep roads open in this area as we need to," he said. "We will have no problem to continue on this year and I foresee no problem in the near future.

"We recognize that we've had a partnership with the province over a period of years and that partnership money has dried up from the province. Coming into the future we will hope that those bridge and road funding programs will be reinstated."

In a press release following the passing of the capital and operating budgets, director of corporate services Heather Gray said, "We remain in a very healthy fiscal position. Our capital spending is down and our reserves are strong."

There is no change to special levies in the county in 2015, including the environmental levy of 0.1590, the protective services levy of 0.50, and the community services levy of 0.40.

Council also approved the following increases to existing fees and some new fees for 2015:

• An increase of $1 per tonne for residential waste, construction, renovation, demolition, industrial, commercial, institutional and wood and metal at the Horn Hill transfer station.

• Fire services response fee per hour rate set at $610 for the ladder unit, the engine unit, the engine/tender unit and the rescue unit, and $180 per hour for the command unit.

• A base permit fee of $500 for commercial, industrial, institutional and recreational developments.

• A $275 fee per service or connection point for inspections for connections to any of the county's systems such as water, wastewater and stormwater.

• A utility capital infrastructure surcharge of $5 per account for all properties in Spruce View.

• A new $50 per hour fee for the use of the county's 14-foot boat used for water weed control services.