BOYLE — Boyle councillors held off on fully completing their fiscal plans for 2025 before the New Year and instead opted to pass an interim operating budget for 2025 in December.
During the Dec. 18 meeting, little discussion was had before councillors voted 5-0 to adopt 50 per cent of the 2024 operating budget as the 2025 interim operating budget until the final document is ready for approval.
In 2024, councillors were able to pass both the full operating and capital budgets for the year by March after the province released its own.
While deliberations on monetary priorities for the year have been discussed in closed session to date, Boyle Public Library’s requisition of $32,100 — the same dollar amount as last year — is already baked into the budget.
Requests for financial support from other organizations, such as the Fitness Centre, Youth Centre, and other local groups and organizations have yet to be decided.
Though no concrete plans for the village’s 2025 purse have been formally voted on, Mayor Colin Derko said the priorities of levels of service and investments into recreation seen in last year’s budget are still on councillors minds.
“I can say with confidence that the level of service is increasing on a regular basis,” he said.
He pointed to the village’s expansion of its Public Works yard by approximately double through the purchase of a neighbouring lot, which will allow for more on-site material storage for road repairs and day-to-day jobs.
Investments into recreation amenities in the 2024 budget allowed for a new floor and ceiling for the community centre, with more upgrades to come, the mayor added. Work to restore the ball diamonds is slated to continue in 2025 pending approval, with #1 ready for action and #2 ready for repairs.
“Every councillor there is obviously a rate-payer and part of this village, and for us to be able to be a part of it and excited for it is definitely an asset to what we’re gonna be getting done in our village,” said Derko.
Lexi Freehill, TownandCountryToday.com
