The provincial government was in a difficult position with all the varying needs its citizens have, and Mayor Judy Dahl said the budget was a tough but necessary one in order to keep the province on track going forward.
"Alberta is the safest place to live and the fastest growing province and truly, I believe that it was a difficult decision. I think they put hundreds of hours into this, and I don't care if you're Liberal or NDP or Wildrose or who you are, we have to build our province,î she said.
Dahl said administrators at the town were still digesting the contents of the budget and how it might impact the town on Friday. She said more might be forthcoming on how the budget impacts the town when council would meet on Monday.
Dahl said she doesn't envy the position the provincial government is in with having to pay doctors and other public sector employees that members of the public depend on for services in light of the revenue shortfall the government is in.
"That's going to hit everybody hard because services are essential in communities, but so is infrastructure, so is roads, so are schools. We've got to put people places when they get here and we've got to move people,î she said.
That being said, Dahl said she supports the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and its position that municipalities need stable provincial government funding in order to thrive.
"Let us take care of our communities. We all know what our communities need and we need to go with them, and that's a difficult thing to do,î she said, noting she was eagerly awaiting discussion on how the budget could affect the town.
Dahl said she did have some concerns with the way the budget might impact seniors' care.
"There's always a side effect (to budgets) and I want to learn what those side effects are before I comment (more),î she said.
"Let us take care of our communities. We all know what our communities need."Judy Dahl, mayor, Town of Olds
