A tough economy has forced the county of Lac La Biche to cut the size of its 2016 operating budget, but it still has plans for a good deal of projects in the capital budget.
The budget was approved at the March 22nd council meeting. While the operating budget has taken a hit from 51.1 million dollars in 2015 to 48.2 to this year, the capital budget has nearly doubled. from 25.8 to just a hair under 50.
As a general rule, capital budgets are for big purchases while operating budgets are for daily maintenance and other routine expenses. The county has provided a list of some of the projects they plan to get started on this year.
- Paving Old Trail connecting Lac La Biche and Plamondon,
- Paving Lakeview Estates subdivision
- Resurfacing six kilometres of road in the hamlets, part of a five-year program
- Base work and paving of 91 Avenue and upgrading Highway 881 intersection Base work and paving of Tower Road
- Paving two kilometres of internal roads in the Holowachuk Estates subdivision
- Paving Nipewon Road
- Re-grading Township Road 684A
- Replacement of curb, gutter and sidewalks in the hamlets, part of a five-year program
- Paving 88 Avenue in the hamlet of Lac La Biche
- Oiling Old Venice Road
- Paving 95 Street between 99 Avenue and 94 Avenue
- Completing the water line and the  paving and construction of sidewalk, curbs and gutters on 99 Street between 99 Avenue and 94 Avenue
- Upgrading the system at the Water Treatment Plant
- Replacing the water and sewer infrastructure on 101 Avenue from 99 Street to 100 Street
- Replacing water and sewer infrastructure, resurfacing and replacing curb, gutter and sidewalks on Churchill Drive between 101B Avenue and 104 Avenue.
- Purchasing additional plow trucks, graders, fire trucks, trailers, tractors and other equipment