By Adam Ophus

No Increase

Rocky’s 2020 budget holds line on taxes, utilities

Jan 24, 2020 | 4:00 PM

Rocky Mountain House town council has approved the 2020 operating and capital budgets.

Totaling $31,942,973, the budgets come without an increase in municipal property tax rates for the second year in a row.

Last year, residents saw variations in their property tax bills but the town stated that it was due to changes in property assessments.

The 2020 tax rate bylaw will be set in April, once the Town receives its final property assessment numbers.

“Despite a reduction in provincial and local government grants, we have been able to maintain services without increasing municipal taxation. We found efficiencies and savings at the municipal level, to make sure we are not asking our residents and business-owners for more than absolutely necessary,” explained Mayor Tammy Burke.

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The UCP government declared that in 2020-22 they will be reducing the Municipal Sustainability Initiative Program, reducing it by $94 million in the first year and $142 million by the second.

The town held a public engagement period in September to receive input from community members to find out what residents wanted regarding the budget. The town heard that the people of Rocky wanted more transparency in the budget.

Communications Coordinator Laura Button says they are adapting in response to tath feedback.

“The format is entirely different than anything we’ve done before, including an explanation the roles of responsibilities and service levels of each department.”

Highlights of the 2020 operating budget include $2.1 million for administration, $3.5 million for protective services, $2.2 million for engineering and operations, $4.3 million for recreation and culture, and $900,000 each for social services and planning and development. The cost of governance (Council) is $352,704, or 1.3% of the operating budget.

2020 will be seeing some rather large capital projects being completed in town, including the spray park and the 54 Street extension that will finally connect the neighbourhood of Creekside to the rest of town.

More good news for Rocky wallets is that there will be no rate increases to town utilities, including water, wastewater and solid waste.

In February, the town will begin using a new solid waste collection contractor for curbside collection.

Later in the year residents will see a complete replacement of water meters throughout town that will be done with radio-read meters that are intended to eliminate system estimated invoices.