Council is considering its Capital Budget of over $3.8 million with targeted spending in some areas.
Director of Cooperate Services, Mauricio Reyes, presented the first draft of the 2021 Capital Budget and the multi-year capital plan. The capital budget is for expenditures for the acquisition or maintenance of fixed assets and is funded primarily through grants and municipal reserves. This is unlike the operating budget which the council has already passed, and is funded primarily through municipal taxes, fees, and franchise fees.
Of the $3,843,560 capital budget, 58 per cent is funded through ongoing grant programs, 29 per cent is funded through one time grants, 12 per cent from tax-supported municipal reserves, and one percent through utility supported reserves.
One new item in the draft budget is funding for a downtown plaza. This is funded through a $940,000 Municipal Stimulus Program grant.
Under fire protection, there is funding of $350,000 for a new water tanker, plus $15,000 to convert an existing unit into a water tanker. These funds come from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant (MSI)
The town is also using MSI funding for a new grader at $375,000 as well as $158,000 for improvements to the Infrastructure services shop. The town is also spending $1 million for its annual Street Rehabilitation program. This will be funded half through MSI and half through the Federal Gas Tax.
At the BCF they are looking at upgrading and replacing audiovisual equipment at $194,000, funded through MSI, as well as replacement of aged-out fitness equipment and new banquet chairs and tables. Manager of Recreation, Arts, and Culture, Darren Goldthorpe, said the closing of the BCF due to the pandemic has given them a little more time to replace equipment because it is based on hours of use, not by chronological age. He also notes the new banquet chairs will be an upgrade.
Reyes noted funding from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) will be decreasing, and the town is expecting about $3.7 million in the next three years, about a 33 per cent drop when compared to previous years.
Funding for the flood mitigation work is not included in the capital budget. Council will discuss it again at its next council meeting.

The Town of Drumheller is proud to announce it has been awarded grant funding through the provincial Municipal Stimulus Program. This grant funding will be allocated to Drumheller’s Downtown Plaza, complementing the Downtown Area Revitalization Plan (DARP), a 15 year vision and strategy to catalyze the revitalization of downtown Drumheller.
“The past 13 months have been incredibly challenging for Albertans, as well as municipalities,” begins Nate Horner, MLA Drumheller-Stettler. “This program will help drive growth in Drumheller, and other communities across the province. I am proud to share that 29 projects in our constituency of Drumheller-Stettler have been approved, directing millions in investments into our local communities.”
The Municipal Stimulus Program (MSP) was announced by the province in July 2020, with applications coming forward in October. This program provides additional capital infrastructure funding to municipalities with the primary objective to sustain and create local jobs, enhance provincial competitiveness and productivity, position communities to participate in future economic growth, and reduce municipal red-tape to promote job-creating private sector investment. Drumheller was awarded the funding earlier this year.
“We are so thankful for this funding,” shares Mayor Heather Colberg. “Our vision for our downtown is coming together and we are very excited! This funding allocated to the development of our new downtown plaza will help our downtown become the vibrant, welcoming and inclusive area that Drumheller deserves.”
Drumheller was awarded $940,000 through the MSP. Conceptual designs are being worked on already and will be presented to the public this spring for feedback. The construction for the plaza will commence this summer with completion targeted before the end of 2021.