WOODLANDS COUNTY - Woodlands County councillors approved the interim 2024 operating and capital budgets during their Dec. 20 meeting.
The operating budget has been pegged at just over $43 million, while the capital budget is just over $11.1 million.
The capital budget contains $3 million in funding for capital projects through taxation, $875,000 in additional funding, $4.25 million in debentures, and $1.99 million transferred to reserves.
Interim corporate services director Andrew World told councillors the budgets come after a process of three months, which included multiple public engagement sessions.
"They are also in alignment with the [Woodlands County Economic Recovery Plan] and are based on council's budget deliberation meetings in November, he said, adding they also include changes council were expected to make later in the meeting, a previously unbudgeted expense to help the Fort Assiniboine School Parent's Society, fund the school's breakfast program and an unexpected increase to the municipality's Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) allotment. LGFF replaces the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) grant.
World noted that the municipality's LGFF grant was "significantly higher" than the 2023 MSI grant they used to draft the 2024 budget.
"The result is about a $387,000 [addition] to our surplus," he said. "At the end of the day, from operations in the budget, we have capital of $3.875 million and $1.8 million in operating initiatives, with $1.99 million in surpluses sitting in our balancing account per our recovery plan."
Council drafted the plan in 2019 to deal with the shortfall of roughly $9.5 million in defunct energy company tax accounts.
The crux of the plan was a 15 per cent service decrease along with a 15 per cent property tax increase phased in incrementally at three per cent a year. Council subsequently revised the plan to allow for a one per cent increase in the operating budget for the last two years. This year, 2024, will mark the final year of the plan.
Small Community Opportunity Program
Councillors also endorsed the municipality's Small Community Opportunity Program (SCOP) grant application.
SCOP is a provincial initiative that provides up to $100,000 to help communities solve challenges and take advantage of unique opportunities available in rural communities. Successful applicants must provide 10 per cent of the grant's value.
Economic development officer Bert Roach said, if successful, the county would use the grant to fund an Agri-Foods Local Market and Logistics Study and a Rural Alberta Economic Development Best Practices Benchmark Study.
"The studies will provide a better understanding of the current agri-foods industry in the county and provide economic benchmarks comparing it with other municipalities," he said.
GROWTH Alberta application
Council also endorsed a letter of support for GROWTH Alberta's Northern and Regional Economic Development program application.
The grant will fund a local task force focused on creating discussion, understanding, and education surrounding national and international emissions legislation and their effects on businesses in the region.
GROWTH Alberta is one of nine Regional Economic Development Areas in the province. Their purpose is to create economic growth through marketing. At one time, GROWTH's membership was in the teens and included both Barrhead municipalities.
However, in recent years, its membership has been on the decline and now only includes Woodlands County, Swan Hills and Mayerthorpe.
