Wow! we finally have a Budget in the Crowsnest Pass

Well its finally here the Crowsnest Pass Budget/Millrate was passed last night (April 14th).

How much does it hit our taxpayers? 3.8% average increase, please keep in mind that due to fluctuations in market assessment some properties will be higher some will be lower.

Nobody including myself likes tax increases but this was certainly a step in the right direction after last years whopping 11.2% increase.

I have never voted for a tax increase in the last four budgets! why now? because for the first time in five years I was part of a council where the majority was willing to make tough decisions, was willing to make cuts where necessary. We all understand that costs go up each year but I always argued that taxes should not increase as long as a municipality is operating inefficiently.

How as council demonstrated its willingness to become more efficient?

First of all a Corporate Review, the majority as agreed that we need to have an independent non political outside body advise us as to where we could do better.

We made significant steps to reduce duplication of services, we will no longer be advertising in two local newspapers, we will no longer be doing a spring and fall cleanup.

We placed a moratorium on hiring, two positions that were scheduled to be put in place this summer, will not be filled.

We reduced funding to non profit organizations by 10%.

We reduced funding to our fire and rescue departments by close to $40,000

We reduced our equipment replacement program by 40%.

We reduced funding for country residential road maintenance, dust suppression and sidewalks by $55,000.

Finally the majority of council decided that we needed to lead by example and saved $10,000 by not sending Representatives to the FCM Convention in Whistler BC.

Most of these cuts were tough decisions especially when you have to reduce funding to non-profit groups but we can not keep on doing business the way we have.

Taxpayers cannot maintain double digit tax increases on an annual basis, just the areas listed above resulted in a yearly savings of $382,000 which is equal to a 6.3% tax increase add that to the 3.8% we agreed on and we would be above 10% again.

My hope here is that all of council will embrace the corporate review process, look at the results and take advantage of the recommendations that come forth to be even more efficient.