In my last article, I spoke about the city’s budget process.
This article is about the difficult decisions council will have to make, decisions you likely will have read about in the newspaper before you read this article. My hope was to give you some background information as to the budget deliberations on Monday, Nov. 21 which determine the tax rate for 2017.
Each councillor receives a budget binder for their review and in-depth study in order to be ready to give informed input during budget deliberations. The memorandum at the beginning of our budget binders outlines the departments where staff feel adjustments are needed. The next section speaks to negotiating staff wages and the possible collective bargaining implications.
The memorandum goes on to requirements for the following:
Police services, which include fuel, wages, administration costs, DNA analysis costs (downloaded to the city by the federal and provincial governments), along with detachment building repairs and maintenance.
Transportation costs for roads and streets, snow removal, sidewalks, noxious weed reductions and many needed capital projects as outlined later in the budget.
Park services costs for maintenance and needed capital projects.
Debenture debts, which are borrowings the city has undertaken and payments required. Included are debentures to be paid off in the next two to three years. This part of the memorandum is a good read for all residents. It outlines provincial borrowing limits for municipalities and shows how Salmon Arm’s debt falls within those limits.
Storm Water management needs and drainage issues costs.
Protective services, meaning fire protection, where on-call volunteer wages and equipment costs right up to fire engine replacement are considered.
Recreation centre staffing needs.
Next, the memorandum goes on to outline Water and Sewer fund information and needed capital expenditures. The Trans-Canada Highway West Project, with water and sewer line upgrades/replacement financial requirements as this project moves ahead.
This portion of the budget binder includes an individual section for each department within the city and lists all potential 2017 projects along with their cost.
Lastly, the budget binder contains a “specific referrals” section. Specific referrals are individual requests from residents and organizations for projects they would like to see funded.
Overall, these are impressive, well-thought- out projects our residents have put forward for council’s consideration.
And just like with your home budget, council will review every line item, keeping in mind what we have to spend, balancing our needs today with future needs. Council will decide what can be funded today and what items to save for in years to come.
As stated at the beginning, you will likely have already read the results of the 2017 budget deliberations, but I hope this will help give you a better understanding of the process.
