County of Barrhead councillors approved an interim operating budget of up to $10 million during their Dec. 4 meeting.
The budget is necessary so that the county can continue to operate until it passes its final budget in the spring.
Director of finance and administration Tamara Molzahn said the interim budget is based on the priorities councillors discussed during their two-day budget retreat in November.
In 2017 and 2018, councillors approved similar $10 million interim operating budgets prior to the adoption of the final operating budgets of $14,898, 373 and $15,775,555 respectively.
“One thing that is not in there that we have typically done is Cost of Living Adjustments [COLA] for county employees. What we are recommending is that council delay a decision on COLA until your final budget deliberations so you can make a decision on all the facts,” she said.
Coun. Walter Preugschas asked if that is something council has done in previous years.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said this is the first time council has not approved COLA for its employees as part of the interim operating budget.
Preugschas noted in Edmonton, the public has a number of days where they can give their input on a proposed budget.
“In many ways, it makes sense to do this before and not wait until the final budget,” he said.
Oyarzun agreed, saying that is something administration is transitioning to.
“Because of the way our current process is, it hasn’t historically set us up for that public engagement process, but what we have started doing for the last two years is to present that type of information and show what your priorities are and where the money is being spent at budget open houses [in the spring],” she said.
Oyarzun said it is currently a very informal process but she will bring more public engagement options for council to consider.
“In the meantime, you can still do that at your open houses. If at that time, you hear from the public that you should be spending their dollars in other places, you can still do that.”
