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By Alessia Proietti

Municipal Tax Increase of 3.82 per cent

Resident feedback wanted for Sylvan Lake’s 2022 Operating Budget

Jan 14, 2022 | 3:17 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake has released its 2022 Proposed Operating Budget and wants feedback from the public.

Made available on their website on Jan. 10, the town is holding an in-person open house on Jan. 19 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Municipal Government Building (5012 48 Ave.) for the public to express their opinions and questions on the proposed budget. Residents can also fill in the online survey until Feb.11.

“The Town of Sylvan Lake’s 2022 budget represents the priority of our residents to maintain service levels while being responsive to the external budget pressures we are facing,” says Mayor Megan Hanson in the budget release.

MUNICIPAL TAX

After two years without a municipal tax increase, the 2022 budget proposes a 3.82% residential tax rate increase. The average resident property owner will pay $78 more than last year.

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One core reason for the increase is attributed to the 2021 census estimating a population growth pushing the town over the current RCMP funding threshold, causing a 20 per cent increase in policing costs. Out of the 3.82 per cent municipal tax increase proposed, 3.25 will be allocated towards these costs.

CAPITAL BUDGET

The total proposed capital budget is $9,959,000. Some highlighted projects beginning in 2022 include:

• $1.2 million allocation to Parks, Playgrounds and Trails such as the completion of Pogadl Park
• $2.65 million towards Water Supply and Distribution
• $3.35 million for Road and Transportation projects like the Highway 20/Memorial Trail intersection upgrades
• $600,000 divided evenly for Sanitary Sewer and Solid Waste for waterfront compacting garbage bins and Storm Water projects on Herder Drive.

OPERATING BUDGET

The total proposed operating budget is $41,900,445. Various departments will have decreases in their operating budget allocations including Administration, Legislative, Communications, and Planning & Development.

Departments seeing increases include the Corporate Services Division responsible for finance, Information and Technology, Recreation, Culture & Tourism, and the Sylvan Lake Municipal Library.

For the Parks & Protective Services, there will be a greater distribution in funds for the Parks team, Municipal Enforcement, and Sylvan Lake RCMP, as mentioned above. The Sylvan Lake Fire Department, however, will see a decrease.

For Public Works, Non-Utility departments like Transportation and Building Maintenance will receive a decrease, but Utility departments will receive an increase.

UTILITY RATE

As water and sewer costs are funded by utility fees rather than property taxes, the 2022 budget proposes a rate increase. For an average resident property owner consuming 20 cubic meters per month, the increase would amount to $8, totaling around $96 per year.

OTHER

Contributing to waterfront maintenance and upgrades, Visitor Pay Parking fees are set to increase from $15 to $20 for day parking. The hourly rate staying the same, the change is expected to accumulate an added $200,000.

Since 2013, the town has kept the average tax rate increase below the average Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of living for residents.

The final budget will be approved by council on Feb 14.