Not trying to confuse anybody but there is a G+P meeting on January 25, 2011.
First of it struck me as strange that at the meeting of January 18, following a one hour debate on the budget. With a lot of questions asked by council, and administration indicating that they would bring those responses forth at the meeting of Jan 25 that they wouldn’t just add the budget to the G+P agenda.
After all, they left Jan 18 still sitting at 5.3% (which means in simple terms an extra $365,000 a year coming out of the taxpayers pockets).
In my mind I felt Administration would come back on the 25th with clarification to the councilors concerns, pull all the give me’s out of the budget. (Item’s that the admin team would like to have, but understand that to keep what they really want, they will have to sacrifice during the final strokes of the budget process to make the politicians look good).
Then I got to thinking maybe the “die as already been cast”, Councilor Saje will not be at the meeting of Feb 1st, if the budget was on the G+P meeting agenda then no motions could be past.
Therefore, what happens Jan 25, in my humble opinion?
Administration brings forth $200-250,000 in “give me’s” carpet in the office; reduce two casuals, float, storage shed for the Hillcrest Fire Department etc, etc. Council digs in there heals a little bit understanding that there will be a negative public reaction to all the new jobs being created, so a couple of them get chopped, in addition the evil water meters go back for further study.
Some councilors will suggest that a few dollars need to be put aside for new initiatives (marketing the community, looking at new facilities) the argument will be made that more time is needed, to review the municipalities services and facilities, wait for the recommendations of the economic task force .
Therefore, council in conjunction with administration will be more than willing to look at those issues next budget.
Then the majority supports a 1-2% budget with much bigger and better things to come next year.
I have been asked how does the municipality find the money to pay for all these new positions, keep in mind that last year council at that time did not allow the new positions which saved approximately $250-300,000.
The previous two councils had taken a position that each year they would put $250,000 aside to replace the aging equipment fleet; the present budget proposes to take on debt of over $500,000 to finance equipment. Where did the $250,000 go? Look at the new positions.
Anyway I may be wrong and if I am that’s Ok, I maybe off on my timing. But I look forward very much to seeing who takes what positions.
And much more importantly who proposes real “change”.
Showing posts with label Water Meters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water Meters. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Water Meters, what my readers think.
Interesting out of 46 votes my poll received:
18 or 39% said No to Water Meters
10 or 21% said Yes as long as I do not have to pay for them
4 or 8% said Yes at any cost
6 or 13% said Yes if I can pay for them over a year
8 or 17% said Yes if I can pay for them over 5 years.
I know this is not a scientific poll, but never the less it certainly reflects that water meters are going to be a very contentious issue, where council is going to have to do a very good job of educating the public as to the real purpose of water meters.
Will it be a method of conservation or will it become an additional source of revenue for the municipality?
18 or 39% said No to Water Meters
10 or 21% said Yes as long as I do not have to pay for them
4 or 8% said Yes at any cost
6 or 13% said Yes if I can pay for them over a year
8 or 17% said Yes if I can pay for them over 5 years.
I know this is not a scientific poll, but never the less it certainly reflects that water meters are going to be a very contentious issue, where council is going to have to do a very good job of educating the public as to the real purpose of water meters.
Will it be a method of conservation or will it become an additional source of revenue for the municipality?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Issue with water Meters-make them affordable.
When you cut through all the issues on water meters what it really comes down to short term is cost.
What administration proposed was to put in 560 meters a year for the next five years at a cost of $280,000 per year. ($500 per meter)
How would that be paid for? the municipality would pay for the meters up front, and the resident would pay the municipality back over a year on their utility bills.
Not very complicated except $500 divided by 6 utility bills equals $83.33 per bill, that's a lot for somebody on a fixed income.
Here's a different solution, why not buy the meters with dollars in the reserve fund, allow the residents to pay for them over a five year period, two things happen then the resident only pays an additional $16.67 per utility bill much more affordable. Second the only thing the municipality loses is the interest they would be making on that money at today's rates they are lucky to be getting 1.5% which equates to $4200 a year.
I'm sure $4200 a year could be cut somewhere else in the budget to make up that lost revenue.
What administration proposed was to put in 560 meters a year for the next five years at a cost of $280,000 per year. ($500 per meter)
How would that be paid for? the municipality would pay for the meters up front, and the resident would pay the municipality back over a year on their utility bills.
Not very complicated except $500 divided by 6 utility bills equals $83.33 per bill, that's a lot for somebody on a fixed income.
Here's a different solution, why not buy the meters with dollars in the reserve fund, allow the residents to pay for them over a five year period, two things happen then the resident only pays an additional $16.67 per utility bill much more affordable. Second the only thing the municipality loses is the interest they would be making on that money at today's rates they are lucky to be getting 1.5% which equates to $4200 a year.
I'm sure $4200 a year could be cut somewhere else in the budget to make up that lost revenue.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Crowsnest Pass, Budget will spur debate? Maybe
Well so far local politics have been fairly mellow and laid back since the election. I don't say that in a critical way because that's normal, new councilors getting familiar with the job, what administration does, the various programs and services the municipality provides it all takes time.
Ultimately unless you are going to have seven people sit in a room for three years and just play follow the leader, debate will come its bound to. Take any group of seven people you are going to have different goals, objectives, agendas etc. If you are not going to have debate over various issues then you may as well leave six people at home and let one person make all the decisions.
So anyway to the point of my post, I feel that debate is coming especially after reading Councilor Saindon's blog. Then refreshing my memory with what the various councilors had to say during the election campaign, this leads me to believe that their are indeed some issues that are going to create quite a lot of debate over the next month or so, in both council chambers, and out in the public.
Three issues I would like to discuss at this point that I feel are very pressing and relevant based on the various positions taken during the election.
1. Duplication of services.
Previous council had to deal with this issue regarding the duplication of Community centres and arenas. Maybe this council will take a different position than we did and restart the Crowsnest Centre, or put ice back in the Albert Stella? We shall see.
But if they are going to deal with this issue, they will at some point have to look at Town Shops, Fire Departments, Equipment Fleets, even arms lengths groups. Everyone of them very political contentious issues.
2. Water Meters, tough issue 560 meters a year for the next five years. Is the municipality going to charge two rates for water based on having a meter or not? Would that be fair, somebody that wastes water with a meter pays extra, somebody without a meter could waste water for free for up to the next five years. What about commercial users, will they be metered? tough on a business like a car wash? etc.
Cost $500 a meter paid by the owner of the residence over one year, half our taxpayers are seniors, administration as already proposed to increase utility bills. Now seniors are going to have to pay an additional $80 on every utility bill that's tough on a fixed income.
There is no question that we use a lot of water in the Pass, three times the provincial average.
Something as to be done from a conservation point of view, but I believe that by the time this issue makes it through the local coffee shops it will become too hot of a political potato and probably put aside for future review.
3. Spring cleanup, I read with much interest Councilor Saindon's comments on this issue, from what I have seen over the last six years, he is right this is the kind of luxury service this community can not afford. What will be interesting is to see where the rest of council stands on this issue, especially Councilor Mitchell every time this debate came up in the last three years he supported our former Mayor in maintaining this service, in fact if my memory is serving me well he even supported maintaining two cleanups. (Spring and Fall).
Three things that I hope are considered during the debate on the cleanup, Public Works are requesting an additional 1.5 positions in the workforce. If you took the man hours that are used on cleanup it would come to more than those 1.5 positions even in the most efficient years.
Second in the last six years on I was on council I would estimate that well in excess of a million dollars as been spent on cleanups, money that should have been used to buy new equipment that administration is now recommending that the municipality go $550,000 in debt for.
Third how many other jobs were put aside while our public works crew was busy on cleanup, and how much overtime was incurred to get those jobs completed in a timely fashion.
Anyway I think budget will spur some lively debate, lets keep in mind these are only the tip of the iceberg.
Ultimately unless you are going to have seven people sit in a room for three years and just play follow the leader, debate will come its bound to. Take any group of seven people you are going to have different goals, objectives, agendas etc. If you are not going to have debate over various issues then you may as well leave six people at home and let one person make all the decisions.
So anyway to the point of my post, I feel that debate is coming especially after reading Councilor Saindon's blog. Then refreshing my memory with what the various councilors had to say during the election campaign, this leads me to believe that their are indeed some issues that are going to create quite a lot of debate over the next month or so, in both council chambers, and out in the public.
Three issues I would like to discuss at this point that I feel are very pressing and relevant based on the various positions taken during the election.
1. Duplication of services.
Previous council had to deal with this issue regarding the duplication of Community centres and arenas. Maybe this council will take a different position than we did and restart the Crowsnest Centre, or put ice back in the Albert Stella? We shall see.
But if they are going to deal with this issue, they will at some point have to look at Town Shops, Fire Departments, Equipment Fleets, even arms lengths groups. Everyone of them very political contentious issues.
2. Water Meters, tough issue 560 meters a year for the next five years. Is the municipality going to charge two rates for water based on having a meter or not? Would that be fair, somebody that wastes water with a meter pays extra, somebody without a meter could waste water for free for up to the next five years. What about commercial users, will they be metered? tough on a business like a car wash? etc.
Cost $500 a meter paid by the owner of the residence over one year, half our taxpayers are seniors, administration as already proposed to increase utility bills. Now seniors are going to have to pay an additional $80 on every utility bill that's tough on a fixed income.
There is no question that we use a lot of water in the Pass, three times the provincial average.
Something as to be done from a conservation point of view, but I believe that by the time this issue makes it through the local coffee shops it will become too hot of a political potato and probably put aside for future review.
3. Spring cleanup, I read with much interest Councilor Saindon's comments on this issue, from what I have seen over the last six years, he is right this is the kind of luxury service this community can not afford. What will be interesting is to see where the rest of council stands on this issue, especially Councilor Mitchell every time this debate came up in the last three years he supported our former Mayor in maintaining this service, in fact if my memory is serving me well he even supported maintaining two cleanups. (Spring and Fall).
Three things that I hope are considered during the debate on the cleanup, Public Works are requesting an additional 1.5 positions in the workforce. If you took the man hours that are used on cleanup it would come to more than those 1.5 positions even in the most efficient years.
Second in the last six years on I was on council I would estimate that well in excess of a million dollars as been spent on cleanups, money that should have been used to buy new equipment that administration is now recommending that the municipality go $550,000 in debt for.
Third how many other jobs were put aside while our public works crew was busy on cleanup, and how much overtime was incurred to get those jobs completed in a timely fashion.
Anyway I think budget will spur some lively debate, lets keep in mind these are only the tip of the iceberg.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Crowsnest Pass Proposed Budget Increases 2011
This is only proposed at this point:
Taxes 5.5%
Water + Sewer 10%
Water Meters to be placed in 560 homes a year for the next five years, to be paid for by the resident $500 to be paid over one year, $40 per month.
Debt of $540,000 to purchase a Grader and an Excavator
Almost all the new employee positions that previous council rejected are back.
Spring Clean up will be drastically reduced.
Reductions in FCSS funding for external groups
Added Dec 16th Policing costs for Rummer Runner Days weekend administration was notified by the province that this will be increasing from $10,000 to $40,000
Funding for external groups from the FCSS will drop from $100,000 to $90,000.
Taxes 5.5%
Water + Sewer 10%
Water Meters to be placed in 560 homes a year for the next five years, to be paid for by the resident $500 to be paid over one year, $40 per month.
Debt of $540,000 to purchase a Grader and an Excavator
Almost all the new employee positions that previous council rejected are back.
Spring Clean up will be drastically reduced.
Reductions in FCSS funding for external groups
Added Dec 16th Policing costs for Rummer Runner Days weekend administration was notified by the province that this will be increasing from $10,000 to $40,000
Funding for external groups from the FCSS will drop from $100,000 to $90,000.
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.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Cost of utilities in the Crowsnest Pass
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)