In a unanimous decision, council passed a $14.37 million operating budget, with a 4.64 per cent tax increase, Feb. 17.
The increase is .27 per cent higher than administration proposed last December, when it was first presented to council.
The slight increase accounts for a bump to the snow removal budget and the recently ratified CUPE local 1458 collective agreement, which saw the municipality’s unionized workers receive a 2.5 per cent wage increase for 2015.
For the third year in a row, council decided to wait for 2014’s year-end numbers before voting on the final budget, and instead passed an interim budget Jan. 6.
“We’ve been through the budget process quite extensively,” said Alice Lettner, director of finance.
“I believe the budget as it stands right now at 4.64 per cent is valid and fair and I believe all the directors are committed to working within the figures they have presented.
“I don’t believe we have been extravagant and I feel we will continue to provide the services.”
Mayor Richard Ireland agreed, noting that had there not been a $167,500 transfer to reserves to help the culture and recreation department repair and replace failing infrastructure in the activity centre, the increase would have been on par with inflation.
“The actual budgetary increase is about 2.1 per cent,” he said, subtracting the increase created by the transferred funds. “So we are delivering services for exceptionally good value and we’re looking at a net increase, really, of only about an inflationary amount—but we’re taking some extra money and putting that on the capital side, which if you take a look at a homeowner’s balance sheet, they might have to put some of their expenses into a new car or home improvements, or whatever, that’s a reality.
“I think you’ve done an excellent job of preparing the budget,” he told Lettner, who then credited the municipality’s directors for exercising prudence.
The 2015 budget adds no new services and focuses on maintenance, whether it be of the town’s waterlines or its flagship facility, the activity centre.
The $167,500 transfer to reserves will cover some major repairs to the activity centre and arena, as well as the purchase of a new Zamboni and an asset management plan that will outline and schedule future repairs to the activity centre.
The approved budget will also address issues with the town’s aging infrastructure.
It’s that infrastructure that is responsible for the 19.71 per cent increase to the town’s water rates. Jasper’s waterlines and valves are in dire need of replacement and maintenance—as was made especially clear when the municipality responded to 11 emergency valve replacements in 2014 and, in turn, was unable to complete the five that it had scheduled.
To catch up with the rapid deterioration of the town’s infrastructure, the municipality has budgeted for its replacement and maintenance and, in the long term, it is creating an asset management plan that will assist the municipality in prioritizing its efforts.
After raising some concerns about the budget process, Coun. Gilbert Wall said he hopes that in the future there will be greater public engagement.
“I get public engagement on the street that tells me I don’t know what I’m doing, but I have very little engagement that comes and talks about the real numbers associated with this budget,” he said. “I’m hoping that changes.”
During the 2015 budget process, there was participation from three community members, all of whom showed up to the first public meeting, while only one returned the following night.
The 2015 budget is available in its entirety on the municipal website: www.jasper-alberta.com.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
