The MD of Bonnyville has passed a balanced interim budget just shy of 100-million dollars for 2017.
The MD says the budget for next year will be funded through $65.48 million in municipal taxes, $7.58 million in government grants and contributions, $17.54 million from General Revenues, such as fees, equipment replacement program, and reserves. A further $9.23 million will come from transfers from surplus. These are reserve funds carried over from projects and funds remaining from previous years’ budgets.
Once again the bulk of expenses will be on road projects, with the Ardmore project alone tagged for three million dollars. Gurneyville Road’s paving is tagged at eight million.
“As in the past, Council’s focus is to improve and maintain our largest assets – roads. Having said this, we plan to continue to pave and oil as many roads as possible, while continuing to ensure, especially in this economy, that the municipality is able to maintain its staffing levels,” said Reeve Ed Rondeau.
Funding for other areas has been maintained as well, such as helping pay for the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority and both Bonnyville and Cold Lake’s library systems.
“In keeping with 2016, Council will continue to work with our neighbouring municipalities through the Inter Municipal Cooperation Program to make sure projects that will benefit the region, are completed,” Rondeau said.
Additionally, Council has agreed to continue to fund the Senior’s Transportation Grant at $60,000, while Community Halls and Societies will have access to $575,000 for capital and operating costs.
The MD Council will still look over the budget one last time in the spring, after receiving the Education Requisition from the provincial government.