With the 2017 draft budget complete, the City of Cold Lake residents will see their first tax increase in four years.
“After holding the line on taxes for four years, we are looking at a modest tax increase to balance the 2017 budget,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.
When elected in 2013, Copeland promised he would not raise taxes for three years and then extended that for a fourth year in 2016 as a result of the slowing economy.
Now, in his fifth year, Cold Lake is set to see a tax increase of two per cent.
“We are balancing the need to keep costs down for residents in these hard economic times with the need to pay for the increased cost in services and to keep up with our infrastructure needs,” added Copeland.
The City of Cold Lake is aiming for a budget of $60.8 million, with $42.2 million of that put towards operating expenditures and just over $18.6 million spent on capital projects.
The $18.6 million will be used to purchase a new pumper truck and self-contained breathing apparatuses for Cold Lake Fire-Rescue, $2 million of that will be used to extend Highway 28 and south 47 Ave.
Council will look at the multi-purpose turf field project. If given the go ahead, this will allow the project to be funded without taking on any debt. The estimated cost sits at $6 million.
The 2017 draft budget also allows for $1.7 million in fleet and equipment replacements and purchases, $2 million in wastewater and storm water projects and $6.2 million in road infrastructure.
Approximately $8.1 million has been budgeted for facilities, which includes $2 million for the Energy Centre, the expansion to the RCMP detachment and enhancements to the marina.
With a population increase in the City of Cold Lake, policing costs will need to reflect an increase as well. Urban municipalities under a population of 15,000 pay for 70 per cent of the policing costs and those who have population over 15,000 pay 90 per cent.
“Growth in the City of Cold Lake pushed us over the 15,000 mark so were now in that higher bracket and there is a significant impact to our operating budget,” Copeland said.
The draft will include $500,000 to increase other labour-related policing costs.
Additional items listed are $56,000 for renovations to the library and $5,000 to renew the free library card program.
With $50,000 allocated to help the museum, $54,000 for tourism marketing, $40,000 to help with the Canada celebrations in honour of Canada's 150 birthday and just over $286,000 to cover debt payments for the Energy Centre.
For another year, Cold Lake Public Transit will be free of charge for riders.
“We considered a fee for public transit, but at this time will be moving forward as is. Our council feels that the benefit to a public transit system that is as inclusive and accessible as possible outweighs the revenue the service can generate at the moment, but this is a decision we will continue to revisit,” explained Copeland.
The total budget is estimated to have $24 million revenues come from Improvement District 349 (ID 349).
ID 349 is a tax-sharing program in place with the City of Cold Lake and Province of Alberta. The province contracts the city to carry out duties at the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range as well as quarter sections of the land north of the range.
Also not included in this budget is $4 million in provincial revenue sharing that the City received last year through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative.
The budget will be reviewed for approval from council at a future meeting. For a full list of the budget or for more information visit the City of Cold Lake Facebook page or their website.
