Budget Update Staffing and Overtime

Now the not so good news:

I have spoke about this before, being a public service our number one cost is staff.

Our cost of wages, salaries and benefits have increased by 43% over the last seven years during those same seven years our cost of living has risen 15%.

Last budget meeting administration presented a package that includes the following new positions:

Manager of Planning                         $137,000
Community Peace Officer                 $29,195
Community Services Casual              $11,600
Community Services Student            $11,059
Planning Clerk                                   $53,601
Operations Casual (2)                        $108,546

The additions above will increase our payroll from $5.7 million to $6.1 million, unless I am totally misreading the opinions of the taxpayers I do not see an appetite to increase taxes by 6% to finance additional municipal staffing.

I agree with Councilor Kovach's comments in today's Pass Herald we totally rebuilt our administrative team which as not even been in place for nine months. We need the benefit of more time to determine the strengths and the weaknesses of this organization.

I also took the similar position to Councilor Kovach that if we need new positions we need to find the savings within the organization to pay for them.

Not for one moment do I believe that council should be micro managing the organization, we do not have the expertise to determine what positions are required and which are not. But the responsibility council does have is to approve or not the amount of dollars that we expect the taxpayers to fork out.

Crowsnest Pass Mill rate Bylaw

April 22 there was a special meeting of council, to pass the mill rate bylaw for 2013.
First reading was completed last week at the regular meeting of council on April 16, by a vote of 4-3 (Councilors Gallant, Saje and Saindon opposed)
Yesterday Second reading was moved by Councilor Londsbury without any debate the vote was called and the same result has April 16 occurred.
Third reading was moved by Councilor Gail again without any debate the vote was called and again it was passed by the 4-3 vote.

What does this mean? Mill rate for residential is going up 3.8% non-residential 4.9%.
Will you see a tax increase? maybe, maybe not depending on your assessed value if you value dropped more than 3.8% your tax will actually go down, if it dropped less than 3.8% you will see an increase.
You will find out next week the bills will be in the mail prior to April 30, that will provide the legally required sixty days to the due date June 30.

Reminder: Keep in mind the real due date is June 28th, the 30th is a Sunday. If you miss going into the office on Friday the 28th, you will not be able to go into the office until July 2 when you will find that your bill will have increased by an additional 20%