| Location | Salary | Benefits |
Total |
Population |
| Town of Pincher Creek | 90150 | 22793 | 112943 | 3685 |
| MD of Pincher Creek | 127138 | 3118 | 130256 | 3158 |
| Town of Cardston | 99541 | 20386 | 119927 | 3580 |
| Town of Milk River | 80,000 | 5302 | 85,302 | 811 |
| Town of Nanton | 92706 | 22977 | 115683 | 2132 |
| Town of Strathmore | 163403 | 26185 | 189588 | 12352 |
| Town of Coaldale | 116567 | 22946 | 139513 | 7493 |
| Crowsnest Pass | 150675 | 26697 | 177372 | 5565 |
| County of Lethbridge | 168354 | 31657 | 200011 | 10061 |
| MD of Bighorn #8 | 109803 | 19449 | 129252 | 1341 |
| County of Wheatland | 165000 | 26111 | 191111 | 8285 |
| MD of Willow Creek | 147000 | 28975 | 175975 | 5107 |
| City of Brooks | 162277 | 33554 | 195831 | 13676 |
Note: Cost of administration $4325 per day |
Showing posts with label Pincher Creek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pincher Creek. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Cost of Bureaucracy (CAO comparisons)
We have spoke a lot on this blog about our expanded bureaucracy in the Crowsnest Pass. There are always two questions, is the size of our bureaucracy necessary and is it sustainable. Looking at the most accessible information (municipalities are required to post their CAO's compensation levels in their financial statements). Below I have posted the information from 13 communities including the Crowsnest Pass to keep it relevant I only used communities from Southern Alberta. I looked at about 20 communities but some of them make finding the information on their web site very difficult. Any way this is how we compare to 12 other towns, counties in our area.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Alberta is booming, 2011 Census results released today.
Well almost all of Alberta is booming with a population growth of 10.8% or in real number’s almost 355,000 new residents came to our province during the last five years.
The province is growing in leaps and bounds with the exception of this little corner down here in the South West the Crowsnest Pass actually was one of only four municipalities in Alberta with a population of greater than 5000 that actually shrank, yes our population dropped by 184 people (3.2%).
How will this affect the community?
Right in the pocket book most provincial or federal grants are based on population. My last year on council we were getting roughly $1400 in grants for each resident a drop of 184 based on that same amount would impact the community to the tune of $258,000 per year.
The other problem with this information is that you are stuck with these numbers for five years until the next census.
How did we compare to our neighbours?
Pincher Creek grew by 60 residents or 1.7%
Fort Macleod grew by 45 residents or 1.5%
Cowley grew by 17 residents or 7.8%
Sparwood grew by 49 residents or 1.4%
Elkford grew by 60 residents or 2.4%
Fernie grew by 231 residents or 5.5%
We must keep in mind that this census was conducted last spring so these numbers are very current and would reflect a lot of the hiring that the mines have done over the last two years.
The province is growing in leaps and bounds with the exception of this little corner down here in the South West the Crowsnest Pass actually was one of only four municipalities in Alberta with a population of greater than 5000 that actually shrank, yes our population dropped by 184 people (3.2%).
How will this affect the community?
Right in the pocket book most provincial or federal grants are based on population. My last year on council we were getting roughly $1400 in grants for each resident a drop of 184 based on that same amount would impact the community to the tune of $258,000 per year.
The other problem with this information is that you are stuck with these numbers for five years until the next census.
How did we compare to our neighbours?
Pincher Creek grew by 60 residents or 1.7%
Fort Macleod grew by 45 residents or 1.5%
Cowley grew by 17 residents or 7.8%
Sparwood grew by 49 residents or 1.4%
Elkford grew by 60 residents or 2.4%
Fernie grew by 231 residents or 5.5%
We must keep in mind that this census was conducted last spring so these numbers are very current and would reflect a lot of the hiring that the mines have done over the last two years.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Update on donation to Slave Lake.
Despite some on Council not wishing to send the $2600 raised from the auction of Municipal Junk to Slave Lake.
Our neighbours at the Town of Pincher Creek followed up at their last council meeting by agreeing to send the same amount, http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3174186 to help those folks out. It was the right decision for the Pass to make, and it should have been unanimous, the money was raised by selling Junk that was no longer of any value to the community. No program had to lose funding, and no tax increase had to be put in place to show this small gesture of support for a community that suffered a lot.
Our neighbours at the Town of Pincher Creek followed up at their last council meeting by agreeing to send the same amount, http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3174186 to help those folks out. It was the right decision for the Pass to make, and it should have been unanimous, the money was raised by selling Junk that was no longer of any value to the community. No program had to lose funding, and no tax increase had to be put in place to show this small gesture of support for a community that suffered a lot.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Nomination day is almost here.
Well Nomination day is Monday September 20th.
Still thinking about running you can pick up a nomination form at the municipal office until 4:30 today. You can even down load a copy of the form from our Municipal Web site. http://www.town.crowsnestpass.ab.ca/
You have to have your nomination form in to the municipal office between 10am and noon on Monday.
Its shaping up to be a fairly diverse group of candidates I fully expect at least two for Mayor, and twenty for Councilor position if not more.
If you went on rumours around town there would be more people running than voting. Democracy is alive and well in the Crowsnest Pass.
In contrast I was talking to a councilor from Pincher Creek and they do not even have seven names that have annouced yet.
Still thinking about running you can pick up a nomination form at the municipal office until 4:30 today. You can even down load a copy of the form from our Municipal Web site. http://www.town.crowsnestpass.ab.ca/
You have to have your nomination form in to the municipal office between 10am and noon on Monday.
Its shaping up to be a fairly diverse group of candidates I fully expect at least two for Mayor, and twenty for Councilor position if not more.
If you went on rumours around town there would be more people running than voting. Democracy is alive and well in the Crowsnest Pass.
In contrast I was talking to a councilor from Pincher Creek and they do not even have seven names that have annouced yet.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Cost of utilities in the Crowsnest Pass
I ran this back in Febuary now we are getting close to the election I thought I would run it again to compare our rates to other Southern Alberta communities.
Cost of living in the Crowsnest Pass, really to compare taxes to other communities is comparing “apples to oranges” which I have been so wisely told by a number of my readers, what we can compare though and have a fairly accurate comparison is our cost of utilities, those being: water, sewer, storm water, garbage and recycling.
Anyway I have comparisons from eight other rural communities in Southern Alberta.
Crowsnest Pass
Water $23.00
Sewer $16.05
Storm Water $0
Garbage $17.82
Recycling $2.50
Total of $59.37 per month
Pincher Creek
Water $61.32 (No meter)
Sewer $16.06
Storm Water $0
Garbage $18.35
Recycling $3.58
Total of $99.31 per month
Ft Macleod
Water $37.87 (plus meter)
Sewer $23.40
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.35
Recycling $0
Total of $74.62 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coaldale
Water $19.32 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.98
Storm Water $4.95
Garbage $19.44
Recycling $2.49
Total of $59.18 per month (plus water meter charges)
Raymond
Water $15.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.50
Storm Water $0
Garbage $20.00
Recycling $0
Total of $47.50 per month (plus water meter charges)
Claresholm
Water $30.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $10.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $9.80
Recycling $0
Total of $50.70 per month (plus water meter charges)
Nanton
Water $12.65 (plus meter)
Sewer $18.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $7.35
Recycling $0
Total of $38.90 per month (plus water meter charges)
Taber
Water $24.81 (plus meter)
Sewer $26.56
Storm Water $6.33
Garbage $16.65
Recycling $2.04
Total of $76.39 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coalhurst
Water $34.60 (plus meter)
Sewer $19.92
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.34
Recycling $0
Total of $67.86 per month (plus water meter charges)
What struck me has a little surprising was almost every community I looked at has water meters in place.
Cost of living in the Crowsnest Pass, really to compare taxes to other communities is comparing “apples to oranges” which I have been so wisely told by a number of my readers, what we can compare though and have a fairly accurate comparison is our cost of utilities, those being: water, sewer, storm water, garbage and recycling.
Anyway I have comparisons from eight other rural communities in Southern Alberta.
Crowsnest Pass
Water $23.00
Sewer $16.05
Storm Water $0
Garbage $17.82
Recycling $2.50
Total of $59.37 per month
Pincher Creek
Water $61.32 (No meter)
Sewer $16.06
Storm Water $0
Garbage $18.35
Recycling $3.58
Total of $99.31 per month
Ft Macleod
Water $37.87 (plus meter)
Sewer $23.40
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.35
Recycling $0
Total of $74.62 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coaldale
Water $19.32 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.98
Storm Water $4.95
Garbage $19.44
Recycling $2.49
Total of $59.18 per month (plus water meter charges)
Raymond
Water $15.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $12.50
Storm Water $0
Garbage $20.00
Recycling $0
Total of $47.50 per month (plus water meter charges)
Claresholm
Water $30.00 (plus meter)
Sewer $10.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $9.80
Recycling $0
Total of $50.70 per month (plus water meter charges)
Nanton
Water $12.65 (plus meter)
Sewer $18.90
Storm Water $0
Garbage $7.35
Recycling $0
Total of $38.90 per month (plus water meter charges)
Taber
Water $24.81 (plus meter)
Sewer $26.56
Storm Water $6.33
Garbage $16.65
Recycling $2.04
Total of $76.39 per month (plus water meter charges)
Coalhurst
Water $34.60 (plus meter)
Sewer $19.92
Storm Water $0
Garbage $13.34
Recycling $0
Total of $67.86 per month (plus water meter charges)
What struck me has a little surprising was almost every community I looked at has water meters in place.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Interesting Population Stats on the Crowsnest Pass and surrounding area
The following stats reflect the population decline in the Crowsnest Pass and surrounding area from 1981 to present.
----------------1981---1986---1991---1996---2001---2006---2006 vs 81
Crowsnest Pass--7340---7577---6680---6356---6262---5749-----78%
Elkford BC-------3126---3187---2846---2729---2589---2463-----79%
Sparwood BC----4157---4540---4211---3982---3812---3618-----87%
Fernie BC-------5444---5188---5012---4877---4611---4217------77%
Pincher Creek---3825---3800--3660---3659---3666---3625-----95%
Total----------23892--24292--22409--21603--20940--19672----82%
Why the analysis? well first of all I know we have a problem with population decline in the Crowsnest Pass, and we all know that there are obvious reasons for that.
I also have a theory that the population decline is directed related to the work practices of our largest employer (BC coal mines). I have long taken the position that the implementation of the four on four off schedule at the mines had a huge impact on our community. These numbers I believe support that, if you look above the four on four off schedule was implemented in 1983-84 the numbers peak in 1986. The work schedule was relatively new at that point and only a few people were living outside the area, as time marched on more and more mine employees realized the mobility that schedule provides them.
Prior to that time nobody had more than two days a week off, much more difficult to live outside the area.
If you examine the numbers CNP, Elkford and Fernie suffered relatively the same decline in population, 21 to 23%. Where Sparwood dropped 13% still significant but not as bad as the others, I would argue that Sparwood did not suffer to the same degree due to it being blessed with logistics, being right in the middle of all the mines.
Then to further prove my theory I provided the numbers for the Town of Pincher Creek close to our area but not very dependent on the mines for employment, its population only dropped 5% over that same time frame, which I'm sure you would find is consistent with rural Alberta outside of the energy sector.
You may ask why is this information relevant?
Well barring the mines going back to eight shifts, (which will never happen the employees like the four days off and it is more efficient for the employer)
Our resident population is going to keep declining in the overall area, even with the mines hiring people are finding that they can live in Lethbridge and work here.
The competition between local communties to attract people moving here is going to become more and more fierce. People that do choice to live here are going to look at the individual communities, and determine which best suits their needs we will never be able to compete with the towns in the Elk Valley as far as proximity but we have to compete with them in other ways. Appearance is a prime example.
----------------1981---1986---1991---1996---2001---2006---2006 vs 81
Crowsnest Pass--7340---7577---6680---6356---6262---5749-----78%
Elkford BC-------3126---3187---2846---2729---2589---2463-----79%
Sparwood BC----4157---4540---4211---3982---3812---3618-----87%
Fernie BC-------5444---5188---5012---4877---4611---4217------77%
Pincher Creek---3825---3800--3660---3659---3666---3625-----95%
Total----------23892--24292--22409--21603--20940--19672----82%
Why the analysis? well first of all I know we have a problem with population decline in the Crowsnest Pass, and we all know that there are obvious reasons for that.
I also have a theory that the population decline is directed related to the work practices of our largest employer (BC coal mines). I have long taken the position that the implementation of the four on four off schedule at the mines had a huge impact on our community. These numbers I believe support that, if you look above the four on four off schedule was implemented in 1983-84 the numbers peak in 1986. The work schedule was relatively new at that point and only a few people were living outside the area, as time marched on more and more mine employees realized the mobility that schedule provides them.
Prior to that time nobody had more than two days a week off, much more difficult to live outside the area.
If you examine the numbers CNP, Elkford and Fernie suffered relatively the same decline in population, 21 to 23%. Where Sparwood dropped 13% still significant but not as bad as the others, I would argue that Sparwood did not suffer to the same degree due to it being blessed with logistics, being right in the middle of all the mines.
Then to further prove my theory I provided the numbers for the Town of Pincher Creek close to our area but not very dependent on the mines for employment, its population only dropped 5% over that same time frame, which I'm sure you would find is consistent with rural Alberta outside of the energy sector.
You may ask why is this information relevant?
Well barring the mines going back to eight shifts, (which will never happen the employees like the four days off and it is more efficient for the employer)
Our resident population is going to keep declining in the overall area, even with the mines hiring people are finding that they can live in Lethbridge and work here.
The competition between local communties to attract people moving here is going to become more and more fierce. People that do choice to live here are going to look at the individual communities, and determine which best suits their needs we will never be able to compete with the towns in the Elk Valley as far as proximity but we have to compete with them in other ways. Appearance is a prime example.
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