As Jasper faces a proposed 6.7-per-cent municipal tax increase, Hinton is looking at less than half of that number.

Between the operational and capital budgets, Hinton’s administration is proposing a 2.9-per-cent municipal tax increase and about a $6.50 utility increase per month for Hinton households. 

To balance Hinton’s 2012 operational budget, administration is proposing a 1.9-per-cent tax increase and a three per cent residential utility fee increase. To balance the long term capital plan, it is proposed that there be an addition one-per-cent dedicated tax to fund essential infrastructure replacements and improvements, as well as a $10 increase to residential utilities.

In Hinton there is a flat rate for utilities – water, sewer and waste management. In 2011, households were billed $96 bi-monthly. The proposed increase will bring that bill up to nearly $109.

The commercial rate is increasing to $129 from $108, if the budget is passed.

Margaret Swain, Hinton’s acting finance manager, said the utility increase is a way for the municipality to do cost recovery on waste management.

“That’s where we’ve been losing out a lot,” she said. “It costs a lot to dispose of garbage and that’s where we’re finding our biggest loss is. So we’re trying to break even on our waste management.”

Hinton’s operating budget is comprised of $27-million worth of expenses. That includes daily town operations, transfers to reserves and school requisitions.

The proposed capital budget includes approximately $7-million worth of projects.

Swain said there aren’t really any big, shiny projects to point to, but rather, most of that money will go toward infrastructure upgrades.

“A lot of it is just basic maintenance just to keep running the town at par – wear and tear of our infrastructure is what a lot of it is,” she said. “There’s a lot of water and sewer upgrades.”

There is also an upgrade to the Switzer Water Pumphouse, with a price tag of $865,000.

“That’s a big one for this year,” she said.

All of the town’s capital projects, including infrastructure upgrades, are laid out in the new 15-year capital plan, which outlines $80 million in projects needed to sustain the current levels of essential infrastructure.

Also in the plan are $90 million worth of recreation and culture projects. Those projects are not currently included in the budget, as there are no sources of revenue for them.

Hinton town council accepted the 2012 proposed budgets for information during its Dec. 6 meeting. The public has until Jan. 27, 2012 to submit feedback on either the operational or capital budget, before it is voted on during the Feb. 7 regular council meeting.

To see the budgets, visit www.hinton.ca.