No municipal tax increase for Turner Valley ratepayers in 2020

Decreasing recycling services and eliminating a full-time staff position slated for 2020 has contributed to Turner Valley council saving taxpayers from facing a tax increase next year.

On Dec. 16, council approved a $5,700,140 operating budget - a 0.6 per cent increase over last year - with the $32,225 balance coming out of the Town’s tax stabilization fund.

This means property owners will not see a change in their taxes, outside of property assessment changes and provincial requisitions, in 2020.

The decision marks the third consecutive year council held the line on its operating budget, said Mayor Barry Crane.

“I know how hard it’s been for administration to continue to chop it down and make it work and we need to recognize the great job you guys have done to meet council’s wishes,” Crane told administration Monday night. “We appreciate all that hard work.”

The budget approval followed council’s unanimous decision earlier in the evening to eliminate the $80,000 community service supervisor position that council approved last summer.

During its Dec. 2 closed meeting, council requested administration to conduct an analysis of transferring the responsibilities of the position to the Town’s existing manager of community services and business development.

Chief administrative officer Todd Sharpe told council Monday night that eliminating the community service supervisor position will impact the revenue the position was expected to create through promoting the Town’s recreational services, such as the campground, Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool and Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall.

“When we take virtually a full-time position and shoehorn it into about a half-time opportunity, there’s implications for that,” Sharpe said. “There is no room for growth on the community services side as a result of this. This is going to get the community a sustained level of service with respect to recreational programs and pool special events, that sort of thing.”

Another cost savings council approved before adopting the budget was administration’s recommendation to eliminate the collection of plastics at the Oilfields Recycling Centre and reducing the hours of operation to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, eliminating Wednesday and Friday. The decision was unanimous.

The recycling facility is cost shared between Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Foothills County, and will therefore require mutual agreement from the other two municipalities, Sharpe said. If approved, the change will result in an annual cost savings of $21,000 for Turner Valley.

With no market to recycle plastic following China’s announcement that it will no longer accept foreign recycling materials effective Dec. 31, 2017, councillors agreed that eliminating the costs to collect and sort plastic at the centre makes sense.

“It’s a difficult thing to recognize that plastics are not getting recycled right now, they’re going straight to landfill, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon,” said Coun. Jonathan Gordon. “This is the best case scenario for us to move forward with in terms of where cost savings are concerned.”

Coun. Jamie Wilkie said while he struggles with the decision, wanting to set an example for his own children to reduce waste, the market just doesn’t allow the town to keep plastic out of the landfill.

Coun. Cindy Holladay said if there’s a change in the market for recycled plastics, the Town will respond accordingly.

When the proposed operating budget came to council’s Dec. 2 meeting, administration projected a $182,000 deficit.

Manager of finance and corporate services Corinne Middleton told council Monday that there was an error with a wage duplication of $30,000 she’s since removed and, after council approved the Sheep River Library’s requisition on Dec. 2, the budget required a $1,225 increase, resulting in an operating deficit of $153,225.

Taking into account council’s decision to reduce recycling services and cut the community service supervisor position, in addition to a $30,000 cost savings to merge Black Diamond and Turner Valley’s Family and Community Support Service committees and a $10,000 difference in the water surplus, the deficit dropped to $32,225.

Council approved Middleton’s suggestion to utilize the Town’s tax stabilization reserve fund to balance the budget. The fund currently sits at $334,000, she said.

Coun. Lana Hamilton said while she doesn’t typically like using reserve funds to balance budgets, she feels it’s necessary.

“This year I feel a little bit differently about it because we increased the utility fees (see page 19) and with the economic environment the way it is that’s the best decision is to use a very healthy stabilization fund,” she said. “I’m very comfortable doing that.”

Hamilton gave administration kudos for its hard work in balancing the budget.

“I want to thank administration for their creativity in looking for cost savings in the recycling centre and the CSS position,” she said.

Coun. Wilkie said Turner Valley is unique in its ability to hold the line for its operating budget.

“I’ve spent a lot of time looking at other community tax rates and there are not many out there that held the line over the last few years,” he said, adding he expects it won’t be sustainable in the future.