MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council is scheduled to consider final approval of the 2024 budget Wednesday, with the 2024 tax rates considered at the beginning of 2024.
During a late-November meeting, Mountain View County council reviewed proposed 2024 budget project sheets -- which included a new $3 million county shop at Cremona and a $600,000 maintenance project at the county office.
On Dec. 13, Mountain View County council will be considering proposed changes following the Nov. 29 meeting.
“The total project budget for 2024 is $24 million, a decrease of $2.9 million from the previous year,” said chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes during the Nov. 29 meeting.
“In 2024 we will rely on general revenue to fund 11 projects for a total of $1.7 million as compared to last year when there was $600,000 for 16 projects. There are a number of projects proposed that are grant dependent and will only proceed if grants are available.”
Councillors reviewed project sheets for all county departments at the Nov. 29 meeting.
The operational services budget called for projects totalling $19.48 million; legislative, community and agricultural services $3.375 million; corporate services for $1.117 million; planning and development $20,000; and CAO services $15,972.
The annual capital road projects total $5.99 million, included $1.97 million for re-gravel, $1,97 million re-chipping, $1.23 million base stabilization and $618,000 for asphalt long patching.
“Operational services intends to re-gravel roads on a four-year cycle, for a total of 488 km per year,” the project sheet read. “The service level is based on a spread rate of 222 tonnes/km and an average road width of eight metres.
“Operational services intends to re-chip its hard surfaced chip seal road inventory every seven years. In 2024, this will be 121.6 km.”
The capital bridge program totals were $1.4 million.
The administration building maintenance project totaled $600,000.
“Operational services is proposing to do major maintenance and repairs to the administrative building. This project will extend the life span and reduce future maintenance costs of the building. The administrative building was built in 2005 and has had no major repairs since the construction of the building.”
During the meeting, council defeated a motion put forward by Coun. Gord Krebs calling for the maintenance project to be deferred until 2025.
The Cremona shop replacement project totalled $3,075,000.
“The existing shop is just under 6,000 square feet and the new shop will be around 8,500 square feet. The new proposed shop will have one bay for each piece of equipment stored there (one grader, three plow trucks and one loader).”
The Olds shop equipment storage project totalled $300,000.
“The structure will be considered as cold storage (not heated) and the existing concrete pad is suitable as a foundation.”
The Bergthal Road Lake project was $350,000.
“The road that crosses this water body requires continuous repair. The surface of the road has numerous patches on it and the shoulder of the road get eroded when the water levels are high.”
The business services hardware and software project totalled $312,300.
“The intent of this project is to keep our organizational software and hardware current. There will be fluctuations in the yearly purchases based on life cycles of the products purchased and the changing demands of the organization and outside stakeholders.”
The financial system development project was $355,000.
“This request is to fund the purchase and the implementation of a financial system. Our current software provider is transitioning to SylogistGov. Sylogist (MVC's current system) will finish the transition of the clients in the pilot project in the fall of 2023.”
The Sundre Fire Department tanker project totalled $535,000.
“In accordance with the Fire Services Sub-Agreement held between Mountain View County and the Town of Sundre, the Sundre Fire Department's existing tender is set for replacement in 2024.”
Coun. Peggy Johnson made a motion that council amend project sheet PK-24-01, Westward Ho Campground Bank Stabilization, to include permitting and engineering only to $120,000, and use information to seek out grants and create a budget sheet for 2025. The motion carried.
The complete proposed budget is available for viewing on the county’s website.
