Morinville took a proverbial chainsaw to its 2020 budget last week as it cut next year’s capital plan almost in half.
Morinville town council approved 26 amendments to its 2020 budget Nov. 26, the net effect of which cut $572,900 in operating and $1.8 million in capital spending from it. Town chief financial officer Shawna Jason said this represents a 46-per-cent cut to the 2020 capital budget relative to first reading.
In an interview, Mayor Barry Turner said council had to take a realistic look at its capital projects given the province’s moves to cut Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant funds. That meant dropping the new $13.2-million protective services building entirely, on which $600,000 was meant to be spent next year.
“We need to be honest: we can’t fund that,” Turner said.
“We have to look at alternative ways to move that project forward.”
Turner said he doesn’t anticipate more massive cuts at third reading to address the $1.2-million tax-supported operating deficit the town still faces next year.
“There’s still part of the (financial) puzzle missing at this time,” he said, and the town could see new funds to close this gap in future years from its intermunicipal collaboration framework talks with Sturgeon County.
“I don’t think it’s time to hit the panic button.”
Operational cuts
Nineteen of the amendments came from administration and were backed unanimously by council who reviewed the changes at a special committee of the whole meeting Nov. 25.
Reductions included $236,500 from staff wages and bonuses; $184,000 from equipment rentals, snow removal, and building and road maintenance; $104,400 to eliminate a green manager and delay an intergovernmental adviser by a year; and $25,000 from the library (the library is still getting this money, but it will come from its own reserves instead of town taxes).
Council backed Coun. Stephen Dafoe’s move to cut $15,000 from the festival budget 4-3.
“My thought is maybe we’re doing too many festivals,” Dafoe said, arguing the town would do better by focusing on a few and seeking more support from community groups.
Council heard the town currently backs nine festivals for events such as St. Jean Baptiste Day, Canada Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Turner, Coun. Nicole Boutestein and Coun. Sarah Hall opposed the cut, saying these events promote tourism and community spirit.
Council also voted 4-3 to back Dafoe’s proposal to cut $3,000 from their telecommunications budget (which pays for their cellphones), with Boutestein, Turner, and Coun. Rebecca Balanko opposed.
Council unanimously backed Coun. Scott Richardson’s idea to reduce their professional development budget by $14,000.
“If we’re asking other people to take reductions, we’ve got to look at ourselves,” he said.
Turner knocked a $25,000 item to demolish the old Midstream Society building off the books, saying it was unlikely to happen next year.
Council also backed Boutestein’s move to spend $45,000 to repair the three worst alleys in town.
Council considered but rejected 3-4 (Balanko, Dafoe and Hall in favour) Hall’s proposal to cut a fitness co-ordinator from the rec-centre.
Turner, Boutestein and Richardson opposed the move, saying this facility needs to be fully utilized if it is to reach cost-recovery.
“We built that $30-million facility and if it’s not staffed properly, it’s not going to be utilized,” Boutestein said.
Capital changes
A long list of capital projects fell to council’s budgetary axe.
A $35,000 wayfinding plan and a $20,000 project to add higher fences to Meadowview Ball Diamonds got the thumbs-down, as did a $20,000 cold-storage building at the leisure centre. Council cancelled next year’s $100,000 community partnership parks development program (but plans to restore it in future years) and delayed its initial $550,000 down payment on a new fire truck by a year.
Council also chose to delay its 10-year, $4.5-million project to develop the 77 acres around the leisure centre by a year, and will instead do $100,000 in planning for that project next year.
Council backed Hall’s idea to cancel the proposed $50,000 traffic-calming curb extensions at Grandin and Morinville Drive, with Turner saying council needs to do more research on how to improve pedestrian safety first.
While he said he supports fitness literacy, Richardson convinced council to remove and not replace fitness equipment by the town’s trails and Fish and Game Pond, saving $61,500.
“We have the new recreation facility that’s priced affordably,” he said, and the town could always replace this equipment later.
The budget returns for third reading Dec. 10.
