OLDS — The Town of Olds will see provincial funding rise in at least six areas and remain status quo in at least one other as a result of the 2023 provincial budget, according to chief administrative officer Brent Williams.
“The MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) operating fund is being doubled, which will mean an additional $76,460 to the Town of Olds operating budget,” he wrote in an email to the Albertan.
Williams described that increase as “a welcome surprise,” noting that money goes to help fund town operating expenses, Family and Community Support Services and police support costs.
On the other hand, Williams said MSI capital funding remains at the same level as 2022.
He noted that this is the last year for the MSI program, which will be replaced with the Local Government Fiscal Framework( LGFF) in the 2024-25 budget.
“While budget 2023 disappointingly does not propose an increase to the starting amount of LGFF, it does commit to removing the 50 per cent limitation on the growth of the funding,” he wrote.
Williams said other capital competitive grant programs such as Water for Life, Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership and the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program all received “slight increases.”
“More research will need to be done to see the impact, if any, to Olds," he wrote.
In addition, Williams said the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF), a federal program delivered by the government of Alberta has also increased.
“The Town of Olds will see an additional $24,933 from this program," he wrote.
Williams said provincial money to help cover municipalities’ policing costs “appears to have risen 11 per cent, which is good news, following multiple years of increases and downloading.”
Williams said provincial education property tax revenue has been frozen at the 2022 level. However, increases in that area are planned for 2024 and 2025.
“Budget 2023 is an improvement for municipalities over recent years; however, further downloading by the province and reduced capital remain significant concerns,” he wrote.
