There is some good and bad news for Boyle residents as council drew up its 2015 draft budget at a special meeting.
There is some good and bad news for Boyle residents as council drew up its 2015 draft budget at a special meeting.
The village is looking at a deficit of $79,250 and may need to increase revenues to cover the cost, council was told last Tuesday by director of corporate services Lori McMurdo, when she presented the document.
McMurdo explained one of the reasons for the deficit was an unexpected $100,000 increase in provincial requisitions and assessments. Waste, transportation and Family and Community Support Services all experienced an increase for 2015.
Other reasons included additional funding from the village for the youth and fitness centre along with money set aside for the Wildrose Villa expansion, Greater North Foundation seniors housing and building the municipal centre.
On the positive side, McMurdo announced $100,000 will be put into reserves - something the village hasn't done for several years. Those funds would be put towards future infrastructure projects.
She stated the budget didn't include potential revenues from land sales that could cover the deficit, since that figure would not known until the land is sold.
But with no guarantee of breaking even, chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey hopes to find solutions to the looming deficit and prevent it from accumulating in the future.
One option on the table would be to increase taxes, but council expressed concern about raising them now and then again next year to repay the municipal centre loan, plus to make up for lost revenue from the Greater North Foundation, as seniors housing is not taxed.
“We're hoping not to raise taxes, but never said we wouldn't, ” said Mayor Bob Clark, although a tax increase hasn't been set in stone just yet.
Ashbey informed council that the village's mill rate - how municipalities determine taxes based on property values - is comparable to other jurisdictions in the region. He added this budget is focused on the new municipal centre plus operation and maintenance of existing buildings and infrastructure.
In the draft, paving and sidewalks would get a $20,000 boost and the airport road would receive $9,000 for gravel and survey work.
The fire department would also see an additional $6,000 in funding to support a regional fire chief, 911 dispatch services and new safety equipment. The ‘I Am Responding' app that was brought up Apr. 15 will be paid for by Athabasca County.
Approval of a finalized budget is expected when council meets tomorrow night.
