A 2.5 per cent property tax increase is under consideration to help balance the Town of Olds’ proposed 2019 operating budget of nearly $30 million.
The tax increase, along with several user fee increases and decreases in some programs' services are being proposed to bridge a nearly $1-million deficit in the initial draft of the budget.
The proposed tax increase would cost the average household an additional $3.83 per month, amounting to $45.96 per year, said Michael Merritt, the town’s chief administrative officer.
The draft was discussed once again during council's policies and priorities committee meeting on Nov. 19.
The draft budget includes approximately $560,287 in additional expenses for staffing increases in several areas, largely in protective services.
“We are basically per capita too short on our RCMP officers so we are going to plan to bring one new RCMP officer into the town,” Merritt said.
The fire department is also slated for an increase.
“We’ve been falling behind and not keeping up with demand of fire inspections. We have a new fire prevention officer to be hired as well," he added.
There is also a proposed change in municipal enforcement.
“We’re also looking at changing our municipal enforcement by looking at another community peace officer and dropping our bylaw officer,” said Merritt.
User fees being looked at for increases include the Sunshine Bus, solid waste and business licences.
Electricity customers may also be on the hook for an increase in the Fortis franchise fee.
Increases in business licences and hikes in Sunshine Bus fees are also slated to help balance the budget.
The draft operating budget is set to return to council during the regularly scheduled council meeting on Dec. 10 for final decision.
