Turner Valley town council is fine-tuning and trimming as it strives for a balanced budget in 2021.
A 2021 financial proposal presented to council on Nov. 16 showed a deficit of just over $115,000 on the $5,633,477 proposed operation budget.
Corinne Middleton, Turner Valley manager of finance and corporate services, presented a series of recommendations to council, which included options ranging from cutting back hours at a summer cooling off spot to using funds earmarked to offset COVID costs in 2020 to the first quarter of 2021.
Changes to the operation at Dr. Lander Memorial Pool were on the chopping block.
“Some of what we are bring forward is delay the pool opening to June 5 and decrease the operating hours for two hours a day for an approximate saving of $38,000,” Middleton said.
The pool typically opens the Victoria Day long-weekend, and while council didn’t have issues with the later date, it was concerned about the amount of hours in the day.
“I don’t support the reduction in the day hours but I would support for the opening to be delayed by a week or a half,” said Coun. Jonathan Gordon.
He said with the possibility of COVID-19 extending into the spring of 2021, hours will be needed because of the limited amount of patrons allowed at the pool and the booking system which may have to be used again.
Coun. Jamie Wilkie said he wants to know what the hours at the pool would look like before he would accept the proposal.
Middleton also presented a proposal, which would have the Town using just over $48,000 from the $264,000 it received from the provincial MOST payment.
MOST is funds given to municipalities to assist with COVID-related costs.
“We’re expecting that the COVID hangover is going to continue into 2021,” Middleton said. “We know there are things that are going to happen in 2021 and they are in direct response to what has happened because of the pandemic.”
If Black Diamond does not use the MOST funds, it must be returned to the Province.
“If we don’t use it, we lose it,” Middleton said.
Also recommended was to reduce training for staff – including council – by $16,000.
The proposed reduction would not include firefighter-required training. Also training for staff in regards to equipment and liability issues would not be cut.
However, Gordon felt training for staff is one area which could be trimmed even further.
He said under the present economic conditions training in the private sector has been cut back.
Wilkie agreed that training could be reduced.
“It could be the elimination of council training or the administration side of things, for this year (2021) I tend to think anything that is not operationally required or related to safety and the ability to get the job done… I would be interested if there is more that can be found on the administration side of things,” Wilkie said.
He said he would be comfortable without his training for next year.
Coun. Garry Raab said he is comfortable in cutting councillor training, but not necessarily staff.
“We ask a lot of them, we expect a lot and that (training) is the way to make it happen,” Raab said.
Coun. Lana Hamilton said while she agrees to training reduction for staff and councillors. However, she said any new councillors elected in the October 2021 election may need training.
Putting a giant pothole in the budget process was news received in November that the cost of upgrades to Sunset Boulevard has gone up by $380,000. The result is an increase of $58,000 for a debenture payment in 2021.
“Part of the increase is due to some requirement by Alberta Transport on how the road is going to be constructed,” Middleton said. “Because it is considered a highway they have quite a strong request at standard.
“The initial information put together did not have the roadway at that standard… We are still trying to get some clarification, through our engineering firm.”
Mayor Barry Crane said he feels the Town is unjustifiably getting the bill.
“If Transport wants an upgrade, they can pay for it,” Crane said.
Coun. Cindy Holladay agreed.
“I think we need to go back and say we need more (money) from them,” she said
Other proposals presented to council were reducing the library requisition by 10 per cent, which would trim the budget by $10,000.
As well, a staff position in road maintenance is not being replaced, saving $65,000 in salary and benefits. The elimination of the visitors’ centre at the library would also save $5,000.
Middleton said the centre is not used that well as people visiting town are using Internet.
Council’s recommendations will now go back to the Town’s finance committee before councillors pass the budget in late December.
To see the full discussion of the Nov. 16 meeting go to /turnervalley.civicweb.net A budget meeting on Nov. 27 will also be livestreamed.
