ST. PAUL - The Town of St. Paul approved its 2023 budget on April 24, which included a three per cent tax increase across the board.
The increase was not a surprise, with administration and council members discussing the likely increase well ahead of the approval of the budget on Monday.
The operating budget was approved first by council, with a small surplus of $6,064 planned.
Operating revenue is pegged at $19.4 million, while operating expenditures are set at 18.5 million. Capital debenture repayments are $927,003 in 2023.
Coun. Nathan Taylor commended administration for their work on this year’s budget, saying he felt it was the best budget process he’s experienced over the past five years. Taylor then made a motion to approve the operating budget, which was carried.
The Town’s capital budget was also approved on Monday night.
Council and administration have discussed capital expenditure priorities for 2023 and determined that all capital expenses will be funded from Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding and Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), which is formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund.
“A combination of carryover funds from previous years and 2023 allocations have been considered to fund... projects,” said CAO Steven Jeffery.
Capital projects range from curb and gutter work to the Aquatic Center chemical controls, the purchase of a used gravel truck, air handling units at the library, mowers for the golf course, golf cart path improvements at the golf course, Rec Center exterior paint, and other projects. None of the 2023 projects exceed $150,000.
Next year’s planned projects have much larger price tags, according to the Town’s plan, which includes items such as the MD Foundation’s Sunnyside senior lodging project that was approved in January, which is a nearly $3 million commitment for the Town of St. Paul.
A Clancy Richard Arena retrofit and driving range at the golf course are also listed under the 2024 plan.
Jeffery acknowledged that the capital budget could still vary, and some projects could be delayed due to the potential unavailability of materials and other items. But other projects will be in the queue, if required. Personally, he said he felt a central security system for the Town’s many properties was a worthwhile project, although it was not included in the current plan.
The first reading of the Town’s tax rate bylaw was also carried on Monday night. Speaking to the three per cent increase that is included in the bylaw, Taylor said, “I feel we can stand being [it] and say we did the best we can.”
Mayor Maureen Miller acknowledged that putting together this year’s budget was “a lot of work” and it was not taken lightly.
Nearly $8 million will be collected by the Town of St. Paul in the form of municipal taxes.
The Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF) requisition collected by the Town on behalf of the province will equal $1.8 million.
The MD Foundation requisition, which provides seniors lodging in the region, will collect $240,774 from Town of St. Paul property owners.
Policing costs
One of the Town’s largest expenses in its budget is $2.1 million for policing costs, as per its RCMP policing contract. The Town of St. Paul has been vocal in its opinion that the increased costs associated with policing are not sustainable for smaller communities, such as St. Paul.
The municipality also received its invoice for retroactive pay increases recently, which were negotiated by the federal government, without municipalities being at the table.
At an earlier April meeting, Coun. Brad Eamon made a motion to hold off on paying the $327,835 retroactive pay invoice. The topic was brought back to the table during the April 24 meeting, where CAO Steven Jeffery told council that Alberta Municipalities won’t be further questioning the federal government on the issue.
A May 15 deadline has been set to submit how municipalities intend to pay their invoice. Jeffery recommended that half the invoice be paid this year, and the other half paid next year.
Coun. Eamon made the motion as per administration’s recommendation to pay the invoice over two years.
“We did budget to pay,” said Miller, adding, the municipality has just been resistant due to municipalities not being part of the negotiation process. “It’s just the way the process happened,” said Miller.
The motion to pay over two years was carried.
