Jasper council has sent its operations budget back to staff, asking them to take one final look at the numbers.

Council decided to defer the operations budget until the Dec. 15 meeting.

The proposed budget, which began with a 6.3 per cent spending increase over last year, has been whittled down to a proposed 4.1 per cent increase, or a $12.475,026 budget.

In order to achieve that cut, three proposed staff positions: an information technology position, an environmental services position and a communications assistant position, have all been eliminated. Council also received permission to defer the 2010 census, as a federal census will be held in 2011. Mayor Richard Ireland said the federal census doesn’t capture all of the information needed by the municipality, such as the town’s shadow population. Deferring the census saves taxpayers $22,000 this year.

Two new programs have survived to this point. A request to add $5,000 for social norms programming, as well as $11,000 for victims services are still in the budget.

In the proposed budget, $50,000 equates to a one per cent change in the budget.

Manager of Finance Alice Lettner said three factors are driving the budget: wage increases negotiated with the union in 2009, increased insurance costs, which have jumped by 60 per cent and increased utility costs that were inaccurately calculated in 2009. Departments reduced costs by cutting maintenance costs, the eliminating programming and potentially increasing bylaw fines.

At 4.1 per cent, Lettner said some services will be affected, however she would not say which ones at this time.

With this in mind, the budget was deferred.

Mayor Ireland said at this point, there are few changes to be made to the budget.

“All of the cuts that could have been made, have been made,” Mayor Ireland said. “Some of the trimming may or may not have been necessary. We’ll take another look at that.”

Mayor Ireland doesn’t want to see services reduced for the sake of a tax drop, nor does he want to see cuts for the sake of cuts.

“Personally, I don’t have a target number, but a target principle... and that’s to continue service levels at the lowest increased cost. The department heads have that message” Mayor Ireland said.

Mayor Ireland said council must remain diligent to ensure real savings and efficiencies are found.

Council appears to be much more comfortable with a proposed 4.1 per cent increase, as opposed to the initial 6.3 per cent jump.

“It’s a lot nicer than what we had before. I’d like to see a conservative reduction, and some more information on the specifics,” said Coun. Damota. “Until we find other avenues for generating revenue, this will make an impact.”

Coun. Mike Day said during budget negotiations, he isn’t as concerned about the amount of the increase as much as its effect on services.

“If we can maintain services at this rate, then it’s easier to swallow,” said Coun. Day.

Coun. Brenda Zinck said she frequently receives requests to increase services in town. For example, she said, she often hears calls for the pool to extend its hours. However that comes at an increased cost, she said. Coun. Zinck said the public will get another opportunity to look at the budget with the delay, and offer their input. The proposed operating budget is available on the town of Jasper website.

The last public meeting only attracted six community members.

Coun. Brian Skehill said he thinks the budget is going in the right direction, and he wants to ensure victim services and social norms remain in the budget.

The budget will come back to council on Dec. 15, where council is expecting to pass it.