The Town of Sundre’s open house to offer the public a chance to ask questions or share concerns about the municipality’s first-ever four-year operational budget was sparsely attended.
However, the nearly 20 people who did drop by on Tuesday, Dec. 11 brought with them some good questions and feedback, said Sundre’s director of corporate services.
Among them were members of the Sundre Bike n Ski Club, who wondered whether any specific projects were planned in light of the Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Plan adopted last spring, said Chris Albert.
“Currently, there is nothing specific in place,” he said.
The municipality’s community services manager, Sue Nelson, who started the position just a couple of months ago, is reviewing the document to establish some priorities and weave projects identified as desired by the community into plans for following years, he said.
“We’re trying to gear up for the future.”
So while some funds are allocated in the budget for the community services manager to dedicate some time to further investigate potential options, no shovel-ready projects are anticipated in the coming year, he said, adding the parks plan is a working document that will be reviewed and tweaked on a regular basis.
Feedback from the community will also help to guide future priorities for parks, trails and open spaces, he said, adding residents who are so interested are encouraged to contact members or council as well as administrative staff to assist with that process.
Additionally, there were others during the open house budget discussion who were concerned about the level of municipal bylaw enforcement and how infractions are being addressed, he said.
In 2019, the draft budget includes funds to include an administration support staff position to assist the municipality’s community peace officer with paperwork so he can spend more time patrolling the streets, said Albert. Depending on how that works out, he said the possibility of hiring a second bylaw officer in 2020 is also under consideration.
Also brought up during the open house were some questions about the Sundre Arena, and more specifically the facility’s condition and future plans for upgrades. Although no concrete projects are in place, the possibility of eventually building a multiplex structure that could accommodate multiple user groups is always under consideration, he said.
Of course, no public budget discussion would be complete without questions about basic maintenance matters from pothole repairs to snow clearing.
“Those are always big things,” said Albert.
One of the biggest anticipated expenses in the coming years is some upgrades to the municipality’s wastewater treatment facility. The primary concern is ensuring the quality of treated effluent discharged back into the Red Deer River meets newer legislated standards, he said.
However, the facility’s processing capacity will also eventually have to be expanded to accommodate future growth. New equipment that made the operations department’s efforts much easier to identify leaks and infiltration in underground infrastructure helped delay — but not eliminate — the need to increase capacity, he said.
The total cost of operational expenses forecast in the 2019 budget amounts to about $8.1 million, give or take. Revenues from sources such as government funding, which includes contributions from Mountain View County, as well as user and monthly utility flat fees, are expected to be about $4.5 million, leaving roughly $3.6 million to be raised through taxation, he said.
There are not a lot of major expenses anticipated in 2019, but the municipality intends to conduct an off-site levy as well as master servicing study to provide an indication of where the town needs to go in the future, he said.
Otherwise, administration sought to largely keep next year's costs in line with previous years by seeking savings and finding ways to improve efficiencies, he said, adding there are no big increases coming.
“We’re trying to keep costs in line with inflation.”
Whether taxes will increase — and by how much — was still premature to speculate on. If everything stays the same, taxes would likely increase about 2.8 per cent to match inflation, he said.
“But there’s a lot of factors that determine the tax rate.”
Administration will have a better idea once spring assessments are completed. Additionally, new projects and developments could also have an impact, he said.
“A lot of things can change that may or may not increase the tax rate.”
Administration was to present council with a request for decision during last night’s meeting to approve the interim budget.
“Under the MGA (Municipal Government Act) requirements, we have to have some form of a budget approved prior to the start of the new year,” said Albert.
Coun. Richard Warnock was among the members of council to spend some time at the open house. He said the priority that he heard from residents seemed to be a desire to start taking action on maintaining as well as enhancing and developing new parks, trails and open spaces.
“There was a long discussion on that,” said Warnock.
Some people also wanted to know how making accurate projections years ahead is possible, he said.
“You can’t really — that’s why it’s a proposed budget that’s reviewed every year.”
The budgets for 2020 and beyond are not set in stone, but having a framework of what to expect will facilitate the budgeting process in the future. Additionally, having a four-year operating budget will provide improved stability for residents and businesses who will be better able to prepare their own financial plans, he said.
The wastewater treatment facility remains among the municipality’s primary concerns as the upgrades and expansion represent the most expensive cost in the coming years, he said.
“That’s a pretty hefty bill for the town,” he said, adding administration is working “full force” to build a funding model in anticipation of that project.
Council’s objective is to plan proactively rather than reactively so as to not get caught off guard by major expenses, he said.
Overall, the people who took the time to review the budget seemed happy with the new streamlined format, which made easier understanding how the document is laid out, he said.
“The general comments were that they were happy with what administration and council is doing in Sundre, and what we’re putting forward,” he said.
“In my opinion, it’s a good plan that’s being presented by administration.”
