The 2010 proposed operating budget for the town of Jasper contains a 5.8 per cent increase in spending from 2009 and increases to several user fees.

The increase would result in an additional $317,538 collected from taxpayers.

The proposed budget of $12,181,340 includes three new positions, a 3.35 per cent increase in union staff wages and a large increase in insurance premiums.

“There are no major surprises,” said Jasper town manager George Krefting. “We’ve budgeted for a 5.8 per cent increase, but if you compare that to the amount we collected, it’s actually lower than that.”

In 2009, the tax levy was $5,521,260 but the town actually collected $5,600,288.87.

The biggest jumps come in the governance and administration budget, which is looking for an 18.6 per cent increase, and Corporate, Bylaw and community plan, which asks for a 25.4 per cent increase in the net tax envelope.

The increase also includes the creation of three new positions: a technician for environmental services, an information technologist and another communications position for corporate and legislative services and sees no reduction in services.

“We’ve been filling the technician position with students to complete GIS work, but we’d like some more continuity,” Krefting said. 

Insurance premiums will see a 60 per cent increase from Jubilee Insurance, which recently had to cover fires in Viking and Grimshaw. Those fires require the insurance company to recoup their costs.

Also in the budget is money for the 2010 municipal election in October and the municipal census. Elections cost the municipality about $14,000.

The town is also dealing with lower than expected returns on its investments, which are down 60 per cent.  Items in the Community Sustainability Plan will mostly be covered in the capital budget, however the plan contains goals to seek other sources of revenue.

Victims services is also looking for funds from the municipality, as they are seeking $11,837.50. That represents an additional $2.50 cost per capita.

Other areas are also looking at an increase. The Activity Centre and the Aquatic Centre have a proposed four per cent increase, and the daycare fees also go up under the proposed plan to cover union wages. Solid waste costs are also looking at a 13 per cent increase.

“There are some unknowns with the closure of the pit at the landfill station. The cost to get it to Hinton will go up,” Krefting said. “Last year, we had to run a deficit with solid waste.”

In Jasper, municipal services are shared 50/50 between user fees and taxpayer dollars.

It’s unlikely the proposed increase will stay at 5.3 per cent, as council and staff will likely work to bring the costs down. Budget deliberations are scheduled to begin on Nov. 12, while a public meeting will take place on Nov. 19. During those meetings, it will be decided if budget cuts will go ahead, or if the proposed staff positions will be awarded. Currently, the municipality has more than 80 staff members.

Council got its first look at the operating budget at the scheduled Nov. 3 meeting, however only three members of council were present. Councillors Gloria Kongsrud, Brenda Zinck, Rico Damota, and Ralph Melnyk were absent.

The budget will come before council again at a regular scheduled meeting on Nov. 17.