Okotoks residents may see a lower tax increase than expected in 2019. Town council met from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 to deliberate the proposed 2019 budget and hear presentations from Town departments. When first presented, the budget had a recommended tax increase of 2.5 per cent, which would have been about $4.76 per month for the average household. CAO Elaine Vincent said the first round of budget revisions saw the increase reduced to between 0.75 per cent and one per cent. “We’ve got to crunch the numbers there, but that’s where it will be recommended to council,” said Vincent. Close to $1.75 million was removed from the capital plan, which led to the lower tax increase, she said. Changes included removing about $250,000 for council’s strategic initiatives, removing a phase of the climate change action plan, and taking away $150,000 from a water rebate enhancement, she said. In addition, funds for one of the bigger projects on the Town’s radar for 2019 were cut by nearly half. “The transit program, because of the change from how it was initially envisioned, we were able to trim that from $3.1 million down to $1.4 million,” said Vincent. “That’s because we don’t have to build the park-and-ride lots now, when we’re doing curb-to-curb pick-up.” Other highlights of the proposed budget include $1.7 million for directional and entry signage in town, $2.15 million to upgrade water reservoirs, and $1.2 million for a snow dump land purchase and development. The 2019 budget also suggests a 3.88 per cent increase to utility fees, based on an average household water consumption rate of 19 cubic metres per month, seeing average bills rise from $232.15 per bi-monthly billing period to $241.15. Council will still debate the proposed 2019 budget at its Dec. 10 meeting, she said, where things could change again before it is finalized. “A lot of the conversation was about the strategic priorities, and does council have enough money to have those implemented,” said Vincent. “So I expect that will be a piece they will debate at the Dec. 10 meeting.”
