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Town budget covers the necessities

The Town of Athabasca has passed its 2013 operating budget, which strikes a remarkable resemblance to its 2012 operating budget. ìIt is essentially the same budget as last year,î town chief administrative officer (CAO) Ryan Maier said.

The Town of Athabasca has passed its 2013 operating budget, which strikes a remarkable resemblance to its 2012 operating budget.

ìIt is essentially the same budget as last year,î town chief administrative officer (CAO) Ryan Maier said. ìIf you take out the school requisition and the lodge requisition, we are looking at (an) $1,800 difference in a $7.3 million budget.î

Athabasca town councillors had requested the CAO to create a similar budget to last yearís.

ìOne big difference is that this year is the last year for the (Athabasca Regional Multiplex) debenture payments,î Maier said. ìThis year is it $178,000. That is only half of what we have paid in previous years.î

Another main difference in this yearís budget compared to last yearís is that there was $160,000 less for administration. The $160,000 in last yearís financial statements was actually a one-time staffing change expense which wasnít budgeted for.

After the previous CAO retired, a new one was hired on. These changes in staffing resulted in unbudgeted funds being spent on administration.

ì(The) community development budget increased,î Maier added. ìWe are also looking at ways of not spending that money. Half of the battle is to get the budget, pass the budget and say that this is our budget for the year.î

Maier said the other half the battle is trying not to spend all the money the town has in its budget.

The budget can be viewed on the townís website.

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