The final day of city budget debates got a bit heated this week, but the end result is St. Albert residents are looking at a 3.2 per cent property tax increase in 2015.
City council wrapped up its budget debate on Tuesday night, which left the tax rate exactly where it started as recommended by staff – a 3.2 per cent increase on residential properties and a 3.5 per cent increase on non-residential properties for an average 3.3 per cent increase.
Coun. Sheena Hughes found some success on Tuesday with motions to add $39,000 from the city’s new growth revenue accounts to pay for a spring and fall cleanup of dog waste in the city’s off-leash areas and natural trails and more than $77,000 to put safety fences around baseball diamonds around the city.
But she wasn’t able to sell the rest of council on the idea of cutting $300,000 off the top of the operating budget. The motion directed administration for the cut to not impact service levels and to find the savings without identifying where they should take the money.
“People don’t change their behaviour unless they have reason to do so,” Hughes said.
Coun. Gilles Prefontaine said council had to work collaboratively with administration and that he believes administration tries to act in the best interests of residents.
“To bring forward a motion like this, unfortunately for me, just speaks to the fact that we don’t have that faith,” Prefontaine said.
City manager Patrick Draper noted administration was able to find about $2.9-million in efficiencies in the past couple of budget years.
An attempt by Coun. Cam MacKay to argue that the planned $4.18-million realignment of St. Anne Street should be paid for by developers and not out of city coffers was also unsuccessful.
Council spent some time tinkering with line items, altering revenue projections for departments such as legal services, policing services and economic development as a result of motions from Hughes.
Council also opted to reduce new money to increase janitorial service at Fountain Park to $10,000 instead of the asked for increase of more than $24,000.
A unanimous vote decided $75,000 should be added to the budget for Family and Community Support Services to provide money for youth outreach.
“The reality is there is still a gap for services for youth in our community,” said Coun. Tim Osborne, who put forward the successful motion.
Council ended up keeping several of the proposed new positions in the budget, including a grant co-ordinator.
Council voted against cutting money from the youth festival budget and a proposed $25,000 off the economic development department’s budget to take away a support position.
Hughes noted she felt “held hostage” by a staff report attached to the latter motion which suggested the popular Cultivating Front Yards competition would be scrapped if the motion was passed.
“I object to being accused to holding council hostage,” Draper said. Hughes suggested moving the program to a different department in addition to cutting the money, but it was defeated.
While the tax rate increase is, barring changes on Dec. 15, staying at an average of 3.3 per cent, it could change in the new year after council decides what to do with 2014 surplus money.
Budget approval is expected on Dec. 15, which is the next scheduled council meeting.
