2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROVED APRIL

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1 Beaver County 2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROVED APRIL 22, 2010 An integrated, proactive community where innovation and progressive, practical leadership will forge a legacy for future generations through balanced environmental and economic sustainability. Ready and prepared for diverse growth, we will preserve our area as a place to call home through open, transparent citizen engagement to ensure an ongoing safe, resilient community.

2 LOOKING FORWARD A Message from Reeve Jim Kallal I am pleased to share that on April 22, 2010, County Council passed a balanced budget that is debt free. Both Council and Administration are very proud of this, and we believe each and every resident should take pride in the County s ability to remain fiscally responsible, year in and year out. As we have witnessed the world over, in these tough economic times, others are not so fortunate. But we are. We live in a great community with endless potential and 2010 provides us another opportunity to build on our past achievements and realize greater success. To make up for the shortfall in 2010, we trimmed spending by 3 per cent, increased the municipal mill rate by 4 per cent and plan to use reserves to fund the balance. This doesn t necessarily mean your property taxes will go up. For instance, acreage owners whose properties decreased in market value can expect a decrease in property taxes. If your property s assessment increased or did not change, your taxes may increase up to 4 per cent, but no more. We do not expect this increase to be unmanageable and recognize that you, like us, will have to be more careful with spending as the economic uncertainty continues. 1 But please be assured that even in the face of the current economic climate, the County will continue to maintain a strong financial position as we did in For your review, the 2009 Audited Financial Statement is available at the County Office and on our website at As work continues in 2010, we will keep you updated. Please continue reading the Beaver County Chronicle, visit our website or stop by the County Office for a chat. Give us a call or send us an too. We welcome your input and wish you the very best in the year ahead. B EAVER C OUNTY 2009 P HOTO C ONTEST F ALL S CENE IN L INDBROOK A REA Of course, the year ahead will not be without its challenges. In 2009, the County saw a $30-million decrease in its assessment base, in large part due to the inactivity of the oil and gas industry.

3 BUDGET SUMMARY At its regular meeting held April 22, 2010, Beaver County Council approved the 2010 Municipal Budget, balanced as to revenue and expenditures, in the amount of $20,735,823. B EAVER C OUNTY 2009 P HOTO C ONTEST S UNRISE IN T OFIELD This represents a 3 per cent decrease in spending compared to 2009, while still reflecting the priorities of Council as identified during budget and strategic planning discussions. Council also passed Mill Rate Bylaw to authorize the rates of taxation to be levied against assessable property within the County for the 2010 taxation year, including a 4 per cent increase to all mill rates. Despite the decrease in spending, the County s assessment base dropped by nearly $30 million, therefore a mill rate increase was needed to balance the budget. For individual taxpayers, the increase in mill rate will have varying effects. The change in the amount of property taxes owing by a resident or business in Beaver County compared to 2009 will vary amongst property classifications. Farmland properties whose assessment did not change year to year will see an increase in property taxes of 3 to 4 per cent. Acreage properties whose market values decreased can expect property taxes to decrease. Linear, machinery and equipment properties experienced the most significant decrease in assessment and will realize a decrease in property taxes. In addition to municipal taxes, the County is required to levy taxes to pay the requisition to the Alberta School Foundation Fund ($2,815,353) and the seniors housing foundation ($101,053). Council also encourages you to browse the County s website to obtain information about the 2010 municipal budget, the various services the County offers and news items of importance to County residents and businesses. Further details regarding the 2010 municipal budget follow. Council welcomes your questions and comments regarding the budget, either by phone or via . 2

4 BEAVER COUNTY 2010 BUDGET Revenue Tax Levy $ 10,365,472 Grants 7,045,839 Reserve 1,842,957 Operating 1,481,555 Total Revenue $ 20,735,823 $ 302,270 Expenses Council Administration 2,473,231 Policing 257,760 Fire 565,000 Animal Control 2,750 Public Works 13,458,026 Water Supply 39,145 Sewage Treatment 187,725 Waste Management 11,729 Family & Community Support Services 43,050 CALC LEAP Programming 143,200 Planning & Economic Development 3 1,546,980 Agriculture Services 784,258 Parks & Recreation 725,682 Culture (Libraries) 168,017 Broadband 27,000 Total Expenses $ 20,735,823

5 Hold a municipal election in October 2010 Implement a new property assessment complaint system Update aerial photos (last taken in 2004) Develop promotional brochures and display materials Complete an internal capacity review, started in 2009, to ensure the County can provide optimal service to residents and neighbours OF S OUTHWEST ADMINISTRATION T OFIELD, 2008 KEY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS BY DEPARTMENT 2009 B EAVER C REEK E STATES E MERGENCY P REPAREDNESS DAY T OFIELD F IRE D EPARTMENT PUBLIC SAFETY Fund additional RCMP services through an enhanced RCMP Officer Continue to transfer fire services to the Beaver Emergency Services Commission Crush 100,000 tonnes of gravel Replace three graders and purchase tractor trailer unit Rebuild 9 miles of road, including construction work on Twp Rd 515A, and 6 miles of Rge Rd 124 between Twp Rd 460 and Hwy 615 Oil 13 miles of road, including subdivision roads in Lindbrook Estates, Royal Glen Estates and Carey Ridge Estates Build a new grader shed in Tofield, move the Ryley Grader Shed to the Transportation Shop and repair the roof on the Holden Grader Shed Perform dust control, starting at the west end in mid-may R ANGE R OAD 124 PUBLIC WORKS 4

6 AGRICULTURAL SERVICES Conduct seasonal spray program and purchase new spray truck Maintain contract with Parkland Conservation Farm to administer the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) program B EAVER C OUNTY 2009 P HOTO C ONTEST H ARVEST S OUTH OF R YLEY KEY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS BY DEPARTMENT PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT E QUITY I NDUSTRIAL P ARK Service the Equity Industrial Park with sanitary sewer and a phone line Upgrade the intersection at Hwy 854 and Equity Industrial Park Work with community stakeholders to create an ongoing Economic Development Strategy Process to ensure diverse growth in the area 5 Provide lighting for parking lot, new parking lot, gazebo and playground at Camp Lake Repair the concession and build a gazebo at Black Nugget Lake Partner with the Town of Viking and the Village of Holden for upgrades to their respective ball diamonds BROADBAND Complete the transfer of the broadband network to MCSNet B EAVER C OUNTY 2009 P HOTO CONTEST B LACKFOOT R ESERVE RECREATION, CULTURE & COMMUNITY SERVICES

7 2010 ASSESSMENT CLASSES & THE RELATIONSHIP TO MUNICIPAL TAXES 100% 90% Machinery & Equipment, 10% Machinery & Equipment, 15% 80% Linear, 31% 70% Linear, 44% 60% Non-Residental, 6% 50% Farmland, 11% 40% Non-Residental, 10% 30% 20% Residential, 42% 10% Farmland, 15% Residential, 16% 0% Assessment ($1,065,927,270) Municipal Tax ($10,365,472) B EAVER C OUNTY 2010 E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT S TRATEGY F ORUM B EAVER C OUNTY 2010 T RAFFIC S AFETY A WARENESS DAY Note: Linear assessment such as petroleum wells, pipelines, electric power systems and telecommunications systems make up 31 per cent of the County s assessment base. After applying the applicable mill rate, linear taxes contribute 44 per cent to the overall tax base. 6

8 2010 EXPENDITURES BY TYPE Materials, Goods, Supplies & Utilities, $2,307,538, 11% Transfer Payments, $2,104,470, 10% Capital, $2,291,213, 11% Salaries, Wages & Benefits, $3,910,328, 19% Contracted & General Services, $10,122,274, 49% 7 B EAVER C OUNTY 2010 F AMILY D AY F ISHING D ERBY C OUNCILLOR B OB Y OUNG V IKING / BEAVER B USINESS P ARK 2009 G ROUNDBREAKING B EAVER C OUNTY & T OWN OF V IKING C OUNCILS Note: For a breakdown by department, refer to page 3.

9 2010 ROAD CONSTRUCTION & CAPITAL EXPENSES Engineered Structures, $220,000, 3% Buildings, $448,213, 6% Land Improvements, $33,000, 0% Vehicles, $73,000, 1% Equipment, $1,352,000, 18% Road Construction, $5,480,628, 72% PROJECTS BY DIVISION Division 1 Complete construction work on Twp Rd 515A Oil Lindbrook Estates road Oil Rge Rd 195 between Twp Rd 512 and Whispering Hills subdivision Oil Twp Rd 512 between SR 630 and Rge Rd 195 Division 3 Oil Rge Rd 182 between Twp Rd 500 to Highway 14 Division 5 Rebuild Twp Rd 482 between Rge Rd 120 and Rge Rd 122 Rebuild Rge Rd 124 between Twp Rd 460 and SR 615 Oil Rge Rd 124 between Twp Rd 490 and 492 Oil King Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue in Kinsella Division 2 Oil Royal Glen Estates and Carey Ridge Estates roads Oil Rge Rd 205 from Twp Rd 502 to the County boundary 8

10 2010 GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS Beaver County is pleased to provide grants to non-profit organizations and partner with its urban neighbours to provide quality municipal services to its residents in Organization Alberta Farm Safety Centre ASB Scholarship 9 Amount ($) 2, Battle River Research Group 5,000 Battle River Watershed Alliance 2,838 Beaver District 4-H Council 500 Beaver Regional Arts Society 5,000 Beaverhills Initiative 15,000 Bounty in the County (Kalyna Country) 2,500 Beaver Regional Industrial Services Corp. 15,000 Bruce Agricultural Society 5,600 Bruce Sports & Stampede Assoc. 10,000 Community Sustainability Initiative 150,000 Holden Ball Diamond 20,973 Holden Library 5,746 Holden Recreation Services (via Ag Society or Town/Village) 39,935 Holden Seed Cleaning Plant 12,000 Holden Servicing Grant 2,800 Kinsella Agricultural Society 5,600 North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance 2,838 Northern Lights Library System 46,350

11 2010 GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS Amount ($) Parkland Conservation Farm 2,000 Rural Community Associations (Halls) 15,000 Rural Crime Watch Association 2,000 Ryley Library 6,104 Ryley Recreation Services (via Ag Society or Town/Village) 48,679 Ryley s 100th Anniversary 500 Tofield Arena 150,000 Tofield Library 69,352 Tofield Recreation Services (via Ag Society or Town/Village) 52,522 Viking Ball Diamond 7,906 Viking Airport Grant 450 Viking Carena Corporation 50,000 Viking Health Foundation 5,000 Viking Library 18,796 Viking Recreation Services (via Ag Society or Town/Village) 40,276 Youth Education in Government 1,300 Youth Outstanding Achievement 2,500 Total $823,265 Organization 10

12 CONTACT US BEAVER COUNTY COUNCIL Bob Young Councillor, Division 1, Northwest of Tofield (780) Jim Kallal Reeve Councillor, Division 2, Southwest of Tofield (780) Gene Hrabec Councillor, Division 3, Ryley/Holden (780) Albin Lukawiecki Councillor, Division 4, Holden/Bruce (780) Vern Hafso Deputy Reeve Councillor, Division 5, Viking/Kinsella (780) ADMINISTRATION 11 Bob Beck Chief Administrative Officer (780)