By Erika Chorostil

Focusing on core service delivery

Drayton Valley Town Council passes 2021 final budget, holding taxation at 0%

May 7, 2021 | 10:44 AM

During a Special Meeting of Council on May 5, Drayton Valley Town Council passed the final budget for 2021, and it will hold taxation at 0%.

The town says following a thorough and comprehensive review of capital projects and operational expenses, council’s priorities will focus on core service delivery, upgrading outdoor recreation amenities, and initiatives that encourage economic growth and support the business community.

Council will focus on these priorities with no increase to municipal taxes for 2021, which still carries a 10 percent reduction from previous years.

Over the last few years, town council shifted to a cost-recovery model for the delivery of water services and waste collection, which the town says helped reduce costs from taxpayers while ensuring services are funded through more equitable and sustainable means.

As another cost-saving measure, administration rescheduled non-critical capital projects to be completed in the coming years.

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The town says 2021 will be approached as a planning year following a busy construction season in 2020 that saw the completion of a number of high-priority projects in the community.

Retaining or improving core service delivery and seasonal maintenance will be a key focus in 2021. Council began replacing aging equipment with new, dual-purpose machines in 2020 that were safer and reduced downtime and repair costs.

Capital spending has been reduced for 2021, but the Town of Drayton Valley says many important projects are still going ahead. This includes pedestrian bridges being replaced, upgraded equipment at the Watino and MacKenzie Parks, a mosquito ball diamond being added at Lion’s West Valley Park, and new boards being installed at the outdoor rink. The basketball area at Discovery Park will see some upgrades, a columbarium is being installed at the cemetery, and yearly maintenance for roads, sidewalks, and trails will also continue this year.

One area where costs will be increasing is at the landfill. Extending the life of the landfill has been a priority for town council for a number of years. The town says an additional cell will be required in the near future, as well as closure costs on the current cell. Considering the long-term operational needs of the landfill, fees for out-of-town users, including residential and commercial haulers, will be increasing by 20 percent.