Five members of the public showed up in council chambers, where the District of 100 Mile House council released it 2013-2017 Financial Plan on April 16.
Mayor Mitch Campsall led off the presentation before turning the floor over to Councillors Bill Hadden, Dave Mingo, Ralph Fossum and Spence Henderson who talked about capital projects, sewer and water respectively.
After noting this year’s average property assessment for a single-family home was around $1,000 less than it was last year, Campsall said council will be increasing all mill rates by one per cent this year.
This means if your assessment went up, your taxes would increase a bit, but if it went down, you would be paying less municipal taxes.
On average, residential assessments were from zero to minus 10 per cent in 2013, so most homeowners will be paying around the same or a little less than they did last year.
Because of a “large decrease” in the major industry category, the District is collecting around $45,000 less tax than it did in 2012.
However, the District received a $1,096,745 Strategic Communities Investment Fund (SCIF) over three years, ending 2014. These funds will help subsidize the “revenue from taxation” annual requirement – $365,762 (13.9%) in 2012 and $365,580 (14%) in 2013.
Sewer and water up
Sewer and water frontage tax pays down the annual debenture debt for infrastructure service to District homes and business and any capital replacement for infrastructure. Noting the Fire Tanker and the Blackstock Water Specified Area debts will be completed in 2013 and the Birch Avenue Storm debts will be paid in 2017, Mayor Campsall said the financial plan reflects an annual increase of five per cent in the frontage rates.
Sewer and water fees, which pay for the operating costs are also going up – five per cent for sewer, and two per cent for water in 2013 and five per cent in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Debt-free goal
Campsall said he was very excited about council’s goal to have the District debt free by 2019.
“If we keep going the way we are … the District will be out of debt in five years.”
Noting the District is currently paying more than $140,000 in interest payments this year, the mayor said it was a big chuck of change that could be better spent on needed projects.
“That’s our five-year plan. With everything coming down our turnpikes, we’ll probably be one of the few communities below Prince George that’s out of debt.
Capital projects
Coun. Hadden talked about the sidewalk the District is going to build this year from Pioneer Haven seniors complex on Aspen Avenue to Birch Avenue and connect it with the existing sidewalk near Save-On-Foods.
He noted council set aside $50,000 three years ago for a long-term approach to a sidewalk improvement and replacement program. This year’s project is expected to cost close to $140,000.
Hadden said the District is also embarking on a downtown boulevard and shoulder upgrade, which would see the uprooting, replacement and redesign of the overgrown plants. The upgrade will start around the community hall this year, move on to Third and Fourth streets, including paving from First to Fourth streets, in 2014, and finishing from Fields to First Street in 2015.
Coun. Mingo led the presentation through other capital projects.
Fire department: purchase in-ground water supply tank for the training centre; fire hall roof-top heating unit replacement; and small equipment replacement/upgrades.
The Community Services department: pickups over 10 years old to be replaced when funds are available to reduce fuel, maintenance and negative greenhouse gas emissions.
Purchase of a GPS unit for the District’s data migration project to map hydrants, valves, manholes and other pertinent infrastructure, as well as pre-existing infrastructure.
Centennial Park: the Bridge Creek bridges and walking trails will be completed this year.
Coun. Fossum led the presentation of the sewer capital projects. He noted the District will spend $1.25 million on sewage in 2013, with $750,000 of it being capital to complete the construction of two basins for the Rapid Infiltration Basin Project.
All of $750,000 capital money came in through grants – $400,000 through Towns for Tomorrow and $350,000 through Gas Tax.
He said all sewage – sanitary from toilets and sinks; storm sewer, which is runoff from the roads, that is collected in drains next to the highway – goes downhill. All of it would find its way into Bridge Creek.
“We have a responsibility to make sure none of it goes into Bridge Creek, so there is a lot of money in infrastructure spent on that. The Rapid Infiltration Basin is one of the processes we have to clarify some of that water and return it its natural environment.”
Coun. Henderson noted there are no water capital projects for 2013, but the District received $265,000 Gas Tax grant for a clean water sustainability planning study, which is identified in the financial plan.
He added there will be a pressure reducing valve station replacement in 2014, and the District is looking at the proposed construction of the Alpine Water Main Loop in 2016.
Council members answered a few questions from the audience, but there were no contentious issues.
