Money from the provincial government helps Armstrong’s 2012 budget.
The city will receive $426,886 from the ministry of community, sport and cultural development’s small community and regional district grants.
“This is part of our annual funding from the ministry and it’s a big part of our budget,” said Mayor Chris Pieper. “It’s nine per cent of the total revenue for the city.”
This year’s grant is an increase over the one the city received in 2011.
The city did not qualify for any of the ministry’s traffic fine revenue sharing program, and Pieper said that’s because the city’s population is under 5,000 and do not have to pay for policing matters like cities and towns whose population exceeds 5,000.
Traffic fine revenue sharing monies are used by those communities to help pay with policing numbers and community-based public safety programs.
Taxes roll in
Property tax season ended on July 3, and Armstrong’s chief financial officer Terry Martens commended the city’s front office staff for doing “an exceptional job in assisting taxpayers at the front counter and on the phone.”
“This was the first year of allowing online payments at all major financial institutions,” said Martens.
“This certainly cut down on in-person payments at our front counter.”
As of July 3, 94.6 per cent of current taxes had been collected, up from 93.9 per cent in 2011.
Tax penalties amounted to approximately $29,000, compared to $35,000 last year.
This was the second year for online home owner grant applications, and a total of 153 grants were processed online, up nine from 2011.
Centennial planning commences
Council received an update on the beginning of 2013 centennial celebrations from newly hired co-ordinator Terri Wong, of Event Options.
“She’s started organizing a committee that she wants to get together,” said Coun. Paul Britton.
Wong is looking to fill eight positions on this committee: entertainment, secretary, invitations, financial, groups and organizations, media, heritage and grants.
Letters will soon be going to groups to talk about their participation in centennial celebrations
