At the Jasper Municipal Council meeting of April 7, councillors and administrators received a presentation from Scott Walker of Meyers, Norris, Penny LLP on the state of the municipality’s finances.

Financial auditor Walker was pleased with the financial position of the Municipality of Jasper as of Dec. 31, 2008, said his report. Walker said Jasper’s financial position is “as good as you get” and congratulated administrative officials, such as Alice Lettner, director of finance and administration, for the success of their work. “It was a great audit,” said Walker, adding that Municipal staff were very cooperative with his work.  

Mayor Richard Ireland and municipal manager George Krefting echoed Walker’s sentiments. In terms of Jasper’s operational budget, Walker called it a “healthy” situation with almost $1 million in surplus, providing Jasper with a “cushion” for operational needs. Walker also told councillors that Jasper’s in “great shape” as far as debt is concerned.  

The main recommendation in the auditor’s report related to vacation time for municipal employees. The report recommends that the municipality should “consider requiring employees to take regular vacations, as ten employees comprise 59 per cent of the vacation pay liability at the end of the year.” Walker also pointed out that this phenomenon is “maybe not great” but not uncommon for municipalities. On a more positive note, last year’s auditor’s recommendations were addressed and issues were rectified in this year’s operations.

Councillors also unanimously approved the new C.U.P.E. memorandum of agreement, which will see union employees receive a 45 cents-per-hour increase in 2009 plus a 2.7 per cent wage increase, followed by a 3.35 per cent increase in 2010, and a 3.1 per cent increase in 2011. 

With any luck the municipality’s new website will be complete in the next four months, said Verne Balding, director of corporate and legislative services. Additionally, the Hazel Street pedestrian underpass will likely go to tender within the next month, said Ken Quackenbush, director of Environmental Services. Quackenbush also said he thinks the $2.5 million budgeted will be adequate for the project.