Once again the MD of Bonnyville's budget is all about roads.
Council approved a balanced 2015 budget of $109.9 million at their regular meeting on April 7 with $49.3 million allotted for road maintenance and improvements.
“Council is continuing to attack the MD's road deficit,” said Reeve Ed Rondeau, who feels the budget presents a conservative and frugal approach.
“Council has balanced road priorities with other lifestyle improvements such as recreation, waste management, supporting community halls, upgrading our hamlets, cost sharing with neighbouring urban municipalities, and expanding services to residents.”
The largest chunk of the budget, just over 44 per cent, will be invested in the vast network of roads throughout the municipality. The break down will see $15.1 million go towards gravel roads; $14.7 million spent on gravel/oil road maintenance; $8.8 million go towards oiled roads; $6.6 million for paved roads; $3 million invested in the third phase of the Ardmore street improvement project and $1 million earmarked for bridge improvements.
Rondeau said the budget was a balancing act with council having to sift through their planned projects and prioritize them by importance.
“Unfortunately some projects were placed into future years,” said Rondeau. “Council knows that roads are always the first on the list, as most of our residents travel them everyday and they are taking a beating from increased traffic.”
One of the largest road projects MD crews will tackle in 2015 will be a $4.5 million overhaul of Gurneyville Road, part of which is known as 34 St. A tender for the project was awarded to Martushev Logging Ltd. for a cost of $4.09 million on April 8.
The other large road project will see the MD partner with CNRL to split a $3.3 million cost to redo the base paving on Range Road 485A.
The MD was extremely conservative on their interim budget announcing an initial 2015 budget of $88.5 million back in December. The final budget saw a $21 million jump up to $109.9 million.
This is not uncommon as in 2014 the MD's interim budget was $15 million shy of their final budget of $98 million.
Part of the reason for the budget increase is due to the higher tax bills MD residents will see in 2015.
While council did stand pat with their mill rates keeping the residential mill rate at 2.76, the farm mill rate at 5.0 and the non-residential mill rate at 15.5, residents will still pay more in taxes due to higher property values.
“Residents will see an increase in their tax bill as it reflects the increase in market value of properties in the MD in 2014,” said Rondeau. “There are areas where market value has gone up greater than the average in the MD. Lower market values of properties in 2015 will show up in the 2016 tax year as our assessment is always one year behind.”
This extra money will help the MD invest in other projects and “lifestyle improvements” throughout the municipality.
Some of these other items allotted into the 2015 budget include: $2.2 million to upgrade the LaCorey fire hall, $2.2 million for the public safety building, and $600,000 for new fire trucks for Goodridge and Cold Lake.
The budget will also include several different commitments to regional cooperation, as they partner up with other municipalities and fund projects to benefit the region.
“Council's priority is to deliver services to MD residents, but as a member of our integrated communities, the MD collaborates and partners with community organizations and neighbouring municipalities to enhance services for all residents throughout the region,” said Rondeau.
The main aim of this collaboration can be seen in the Regional Community Development Agreement, in which the MD contributes $929, 426 to the Town of Bonnyville and $136,657 to the Village Glendon.
The budget expenditures of $109.6 million will be funded by $73.6 million in taxes revenue, $17.11 million in transfers from surplus, $12.48 million from MD general revenues, $6.67 million in provincial grants, $4.5 million in MSI funding and $167,000 in operating grants.
