Jasper’s draft operating budget for 2012 suggests council approve a 4.1-per-cent municipal tax increase, a 4.1-per-cent increase to water fees and a 7.5-per-cent increase to sewage fees.

With the three increases, a home with an assessed value of $750,000 could expect an overall monthly tax increase of $8.85, while a mobile home with an assessed value of $300,000 could expect a monthly increase of $4.10.

The town’s total operating budget for 2012 is about $12.8 million, up from $12.3 million in 2011.

Municipal operations are mainly funded by municipal property taxes and user fees.

Alice Lettner, director of finance and administration for the Municipality of Jasper, said the increases proposed for 2012 aren’t yet set in stone.

“Those are the potential increases, but at this point in time, until we can review the budget in detail, this is simply a draft.”

Ken Quackenbush, director of environmental services, said the proposed utility increases are due in part to the weather.

“Last summer was such a cold summer that our water usage was down by about eight per cent,” he told council. “So even though you’re seeing about a five-per-cent increase in rates it doesn’t really compensate for the usage decrease that we saw last year.”

That unexpected decrease in usage cost the town about $53,000.

On top of that, the sewage rates are high because a third of the fee is being used to pay off the treatment plant that was built in 2003, said Quackenbush.

According to the draft operating budget, council has another increase to mull over during this year’s budget session.

It proposes that a one-year fitness and swim pass at the Jasper Activity Centre be increased by 10 per cent, which equates to an additional $47. Currently an adult pass is $472. With the increase, it would become $519.

All of the increases are designed to ensure that the town can both maintain its current service levels, while also providing new services and programs that were introduced in 2011. Included in those are the new washrooms on Connaught Drive and an increased operating budget for the new fitness centre. 

There is also a contingency plan for the fire department, said Lettner.

“There is a significant issue there in that we still have not had firm word from Parks Canada at what level they will continue to support the fire department,” she said. “So we have a contingency plan if Parks Canada does not continue to support us at 45 per cent.”

During last week’s council meeting, Mayor Richard Ireland asked Lettner if council should expect a budget that’s over, under or right on target.

She responded by saying, “I would not anticipate much excess this year.” 

Council will be holding four public budgetary meetings, where the directors of each department will present their budgets for 2012.

On Nov. 28, there will be presentations by the director of corporate and legislative services and the director of community and family services.

On Nov. 30, there will be a presentation by the director of culture and recreation and one by the director of finance and administration.

On Dec. 1, there will be a presentation by the director of emergency services and the director of environmental services.

The final meeting and review of the budget will be held Dec. 7.

All four meetings are being held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Emergency Services Building.

There will be copies of the draft operating budget and the preliminary capital plans for 2012 at each meeting.

The operating budget will be tabled during the Dec. 20 council meeting. That will be the last opportunity for members of the public to voice their concerns. The budget will then be voted on at the Jan. 3 meeting.

The capital budget will be developed in detail in early January, after the directors of each department know which projects will be carried over into 2012 and after council has had an opportunity to accept or decline project proposals.