Month: December 2022

TOWN OF BONNYVILLE

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

DECEMBER 13

INTERIM BUDGETS: Council approved the 2023 Interim Operational and Capital Budgets. The Operational Budget is balanced at $23,334,729. In order to balance the Operational Budget, it includes a two per cent tax increase, two per cent utility and garbage fee increase, increases for Landfill and Transfer Station rates, and a transfer from the General Operating Reserve of $320,835 to balance. There was also a reduction to requests from outside organizations to align with what they received in 2022. The $16,390,093 Capital Budget is also balanced. Administration is anticipating $1,116,901 in grant funds from the provincial government, $6,174,096 in 2023 funding from ID349, which is the same amount the Town received in 2021. Local improvement tax revenue in the amount of $84,000 in included, accounting for the potential Lane Paving Project. Reserve transfers for equipment replacement has also been adjusted to $1,041,000. Administration reviewed the capital projects and reprioritized the Aquatics Centre to be completed in 2025. After the Interim Budgets were included, Council also approved amendments to existing bylaws to include the increases that were included in the Operational Budget.

BONNYVILLE – The 2023 Interim Budgets for the Town of Bonnyville have been given the green light by Council.

During the Dec. 13 Regular Meeting, Council passed balanced 2023 Interim Operational and Capital Budgets for the municipality. The Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires municipalities pass balanced interim budgets by Dec. 31 of each calendar year.

BONNYVILLE – A new app will be a one stop shop for Town of Bonnyville residents.

When Town Council expressed interest in launching a Town app, administration did extensive research on what residents wanted included and then looked for a company offering a product that would give Bonnyville residents what they wanted. That was found through B-CITI Solutions.

TOWN OF BONNYVILLE

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

NOVEMBER 22

DRAFT II BUDGETS: The second drafts of the 2023 Operational and Capital Budgets were presented during the meeting. The 2023 Operational Budget includes total expenditures of $23,394,796 and the forecasted deficit is sitting at $741,139. The second draft includes a slight increase to the deficit, which is due to a decrease of about $20,100 from the ATCO Electric franchise fee revenue based on the 2023 estimated distribution, an increase of roughly $64,800 Apex utilities franchise fee revenue based on the 2023 estimated delivery revenue, an increase in Administration Service Agreements and Licenses to include a Town App, Escribe, and Question Technology in the amount of $10,900, among others. In order to reduce the deficit, Administration suggested reducing the financial amounts given to outside organizations, increase the utility and garbage fees, review the user fees and charges, and fund any deficit from Reserves. The 2023 Capital Budget was forecasted as balanced at $16,390,093. Administration is anticipating roughly $1.11 million in Provincial Grant funds, which is down slightly from 2022 due to a drop in provincial MSI funding. Changes from Draft I include $18 million in grant funds for the Aquatics Centre in 2025, roughly $93,000 for Public Works Shop upgrades in 2023, trail lighting phase one from Gurneyville Road to Pontiac Park for about $270,900, among others. Administration will present Draft II of the 2023 Operational and Capital Budgets during the Budget Open House in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6.