Drumheller Town Council has set their budgets for 2015, which includes over three million dollars in new project & equipment spending in the capital budget.
Drumheller Town Coucil approved the Town’s Operating and Capital Budgets for the 2015 budget year at its regular Monday meeting February 23.
The Town’s spending at $17,128,383 would come in slightly under what it would bring in for revenue in 2015, leaving a surplus of $1,347. The operating budget reflects an overall two percent increase in revenue from taxes, although Council hasn’t yet officially set the mill rate to reflect the requested increase.
The utilities supported budget approval includes a five per cent increase to the Town’s water rates, and a two per cent increase to its sewer rates.
The increase allows the Town to recover some expenses for operating the utilities, as well as sock away money for rainy day requirements such as maintenance or repair, in the water and sewer reserve funds.
Under the Town’s capital plan is where project spending is done, and the Town is wanting to fund the Aquaplex improvements, which would include a gradual or sloped entry into the pool, rather than just the current ladder access.
Money for the project would come out of the almost $3.6 million that the Town has budgeted for new project spending in 2015. Chief Administrative Officer Ray Romanetz notes any applications under provincial MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) funding require Ministerial approval, but the Aquaplex enhancements may be considered part of the existing improvements application.
More than $2.3 million in project spending is for projects carried forward from 2014, such as the cast iron water main replacement program.
