What a great week in the Crowsnest Pass:
Wednesday night the municipality in conjunction with the FCSS board hosted the Volunteer recognition night, there was a packed house the meal was catered by Chris's restaurant and entertainment was provided by a group of four young guys named "Hoja" who put on an excellent show that appealed to all age groups. Three people were recognized for their volunteer efforts by receiving the Order of the Crowsnest Pass presented by Mayor Painter. Long time volunteers Margaret Stolk and Margaret Ann Woodward shared the award and Kiana Miskulin received the Order of the Crowsnest Pass Outstanding Youth award.
Friday night the Polish Hall in Coleman hosted the CBC show "Of all places" more great entertainment, the comedian Johnny Harris and his two colleagues had the crowd laughing from the beginning to the end. What was really impressive was that they spent the week here not just visiting the Pass but actually learning about the Pass and some of it's people. Which was very evident by the way Mr Harris built so much of what he learnt into his material.
I will find out when the show will be televised great opportunity to put the Crowsnest Pass on the map.
Saturday we have the Turning Pointe Dance Studio putting on their annual Festival of the Stars two shows the first at 2pm and the second at 6pm. Come up to the MDM and catch some great entertainment provided by the very talented youth of our community.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
Crowsnest Pass Budget down to the wire.
First reading of the mill rate bylaw was passed on April 1, second
and third reading are scheduled for April 15.
Highlights:
Salaries and wages increased by 3% (collective agreement
with CUPE effective Jan 1st) additional cost of $164,000.
Municipal Insurance costs increased by $31,000..
Property tax base dropped by 2.1%
General Municipal Taxation for 2014 will be $6,921,689
versus $6,681,111 for 2013
We will be spending $633,700 on capital, which will include
the following:
Two pickups for operations $68,000
Two wheel loaders $375,000
Wastewater Inspection camera $11,700
Renovations Coleman Seniors Centre $19,000
Swimming Pool Conceptual Design $15,000
Albert Stella Memorial Arena Renovations Scope $35,000
Dressing Room Addition Roof Sports Complex $50,000
Server Upgrades and desk computer replacements $60,000
Reserves will be increased this year by $290,500 versus
$240,666 in 2013
Franchise Fees will not increase this year.
Utilities will increase by 4.6%
Legal Fees in 2013 were budgeted at $15,000 actual cost was
$156,431 budget for 2014 is $140,000.
Ski Hill manager eliminated savings of $61,000 a year also
revenue for 2014 was decreased by $58,000, 2013 budget was $252,710 with actual
revenue of $187,418.
Peace Officer reduced to one position effective May 1st,
administration informed council that most communities only have one position
for a population of 5500.
Ag Services grants decreased by $30,000.
Upgrades to municipal utilities:
$30,000 to the Electrical system
$24,000 on the water system
$58,000 on the wastewater system
$12,000 for garbage collection bins and Eco recycling
Economic Development will bring in revenue of $183,000 from
various conditional grants.
Personnel requirements:
2013 budget allowed for 54 full time positions, 3319 hours
of overtime, and 45,214 hours of casual employment.
2014 budget allows for 54.75 full time positions, 2858 hours
of overtime, and 37,650 hours of casual employment.
Note: The town rounder position was counted in the casual hours
last year, it is now a full time position, overtime hours have decreased by 461
hours and casual hours are reduced by 5499 hours after allowing for the town
rounder hours from last year.
Debt:
The municipality will assume debt of $1,672,500 to construct
a new Clarifier at the Frank wastewater plant subject to approval of $3,327,500
in grant funding from the province.
The municipality will assume debt of $343,000 to upgrade the
Sentinel Water Treatment plant, administration as proposed that this debt, will
be financed by the owners of the properties in the Sentinel area under a Local Improvement
program (Property owners will get to vote on this).
The payment on the $1,672,500 over 10 years would be
$190,200 per year.
2014 we will pay $480,000 on debt payments, and roughly the
same amount next year which will almost clear up all existing debt.
Keep in mind the mill rate can be amended by a majority vote
of council on either second or third reading.
Well deserved Kudo's to the CAO, the administration staff we do have, and the hourly employee's who put a lot of effort into getting this budget in place.
Personally I would have liked to have dug a lot deeper into this budget and the various areas that drive the numbers but unfortunately not having a finance officer in place since November and no Public Works Director for almost the same time frame made things very difficult.
I do believe that the 2015 budget process will be much more efficient than what we just went through.
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