OLDS — The town of Olds has released its 2021 budget booklet.
The 18-page document gives an overview of the town’s 2021 budget, outlining where tax dollars will be spent.
It also highlights the fact the budget included a zero per cent tax increase and a wage freeze for staff and town councillors this year.
It notes a new protective services department was created, rolling the fire department and community peace officers into one group, with Fire Chief Justin Andrew heading the department.
The budget for that department allowed for one additional RCMP officer.
The report notes that this year’s budget calls for the hiring of an economic development coordinator.
Also highlighted are capital projects such as plans to construct a roundabout on Highway 2A to provide a new entrance/exit to the Southeast Industrial Park.
It also notes that traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Highway 27 and 70th Avenue.
The operations centre, now under construction along 70th Avenue is also highlighted.
The booklet touts the work town officials have been doing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and predicts that the pandemic will be a “challenge” well into this year.
Outdoor ice-skating surfaces will be maintained in various town neighbourhoods as a COVID-19 pilot project.
The booklet notes that the town has undertaken several steps to ease the impact of COVID restrictions on businesses.
For example, assistance has been provided to local firms via a business reopening program and business License renewal fees for residential businesses within the town have been waived for 2021.
Also, businesses as well as residents have been able to obtain tax deferrals.
Details are provided on this year’s $30.41 million 2021 town budget.
The largest amount, $8.9 million goes toward utilities, $4.76 million is slated for transfer requisitions, $4.64 million for governance and administration, $4.14 for recreation, $3.64 million for protective services, $2.63 million for operational services, $0.72 million for arts and culture, $0.71 million for community services and $0.27 million for economic development.
The booklet breaks down where tax dollars go, based on an average residential property assessment of $297,475. Of that figure, $1,767 goes to the town, $788 goes toward education and $119 is slated for Mountain View Seniors Housing.
Last September, the town conducted an online survey to determine residents’ priorities for budgetary spending.
According to the booklet, residents said nine per cent should go toward crime and safety, 11 per cent for road maintenance, eight per cent for snow removal, nine per cent for debt reduction, and another nine per cent for economic development.
A total of 332 visitors to the survey were recorded, 202 votes were received and 260 comments were gathered.
The town predicts that this year, non-residential tax assessment will fall by five per cent while the residential tax assessment will slide by two per cent.
That’s expected to result in residential taxpayers footing of 75 per cent of the bill and the non-residential sector picking up 25 per cent.
The report says the that slide in residential assessment, combined with the zero per cent tax hike “will result in savings for most residents on the municipal portion of property taxes.”
Utility rates are also looked at, noting 2021 consumption rates for water and wastewater (sewer) have been hiked by $0.75 each. The booklet says the result is an increase of $1.50 from last year for the typical monthly utility bill of $166.83.
Changes in recreation include a 32 per cent decrease in the amount of flowers planted and tree planting is set at a one-to-one replacement ratio.
The report is posted on the town’s website.
