Look at 2007 budget
The Town of Grande Cache’s proposed budget for 2007 features increased spending in most government departments.
Propelled by revenue from land sales and a broader property tax base, the local municipal government is proposing to put much greater emphasis on recreation and community development.
If town council approves the budget— with revenues and expenditures balanced at $9,424,155— Grande Cachites will benefit from a number of large purchases, says Darren Ottaway, the chief administrative officer.
Recreation will an infusion of resources. The town is setting aside $500,000 to begin the initial work for the creation of a new multiplex centre.
“The plan is to get all the initial design work completed this year so that... we should have a tender ready document at the finish of the year,” says Mr. Ottaway.
Mr. Ottaway envisions the multiplex to be a three-year program which will provide the community with a new aquatics centre, fitness facilities, community hall and more.
The budget calls for spending $18,000 on an outdoor cinema system. Fitness centre users will likely be pleased with the purchase of new equipment including a treadmill, stairmaster, upright bike, free weights and an assortment of other pieces that will allow for more fitness programs.
The budget also allows for the addition of a climbing wall to either the inside or outside of the recreation centre.
Recreation expansion won’t be just centred around the arena and swimming pool. The budget allots $75,000 to start a multiyear playground rehabilitation program.
“Each year, we will focus on one of the playgrounds and totally rehabilitate them,” says Mr. Ottaway. The program is set to start this year at the playground on 110th street because it suffers from some hazards and older equipment.
Trails also receive a lot of attention in this budget. The town is proposing to refurbish existing trails, starting with the Griffith’s Trail, and eventually redesign other trails. “We have purchased the equipment we need to properly do this job and we are going to be taking it very seriously.”
Community Development will be consuming a large share of the revenues with three main projects as it moves forward with Grande Cache’s beautification plan.
Grande Cachites will see the the start of the Central Park west of the recreation centre as Shand Avenue is dug up to bring utilities to the area. The plan calls for the establishment of asphalt pads and 100 per cent of the tree planting to occur this year.
Marquee welcome signs will be placed at the entrances to the community and more tree planting will occur in other areas of the town.
The municipality will also unveil a program to offer interest free loans up to $5,000 to local businesses to help them improve their facades to keep up with the beautification plan, says Mr. Ottaway. Individual businesses will be given more details of the program over the next month.
The Community Development office will hire a student to help complete a study on what impacts business retention and expansion.
Public Works won’t see much of an increase in its budget this year, notes Mr. Ottaway. “Traditionally, it has received the lion’s share of the budget and that changes in this budget.”
This doesn’t mean Grande Cachites won’t see improvements to services. The town is purchasing a snow blower and will be taking on the maintenance of sidewalks next winter.
Public Works is attempting to hire more workers to maintain its current services and it will be subleasing some of its underutilized equipment to the oil fields to cover expenses, says Mr. Ottaway.
The town will move from purchasing its own vehicles to leasing them. It will start with a new hybrid van to emphasize it greater focus on environmentally friendly practices.
The Town of Grande Cache is purchasing new software that will allow residents augment online services. For instance, development permits would be obtained by going on line.
The question town council is certain to face is, “how will it pay for all of this,” concedes Mr. Ottaway.
Town administrators believe increased revenue from land sales and the broader tax base will keep property taxes from rising for many homeowners.
In 2006, the town budgeted for $1.2 in revenue from land sales. The actual revenue was over $4.5 million. This year it is cautiously budgeting for $1.5 in land sales revenue when it believes these sales could be as high as last year.
Grande Cachites will be able to review the budget at a public open house set for tomorrow.