Eckville Echo

by Carson Papke
Eckville Echo

Residents can expect to see an increase in taxes after Eckville councilors unanimously passed the 2008 operating budget at their regular meeting, Monday.
Residents could see an increase of up to three per cent in taxes, however they could experience a greater or lesser percentage change depending on their assessment which is based on market value adjustments from 2007.
Water and sewer rates are also going up — by three per cent — and solid waste fees will increase by five per cent.
Budget documents said assessments have risen 59 per cent to a total of $94,725,630 for residential and non-residential properties.
The residential mill rate was set at 9.709, a 34 per cent decrease from 2007 while the non-residential mill rate was was decreased 14.5 per cent to 17.637. Those rates include the School Foundation mill rates. Tax revenue projected for 2008 will be $1,016,953.49.
Projected expenditures increased 11.89 per cent over 2007 and will reach $3,187,809 for 2008. Capital costs are the biggest expenditure at just over $1 million but the full amount is subsidized and is reflected in the revenues.
The capital budget includes the Water Meter Project ($175,000), Memorial Park Storm Drainage System ($50,000), landscaping at the McDonald Heights subdivision ($50,000), North Outlet Storm Water System ($221,000), and the Northeast Industrial Park ($450,000). The budget also includes a bobcat with attachments that will cost $50,000.
Revenues for the town were budgeted at $2,399,309 without the tax adjustments. With the projected tax revenues the budget revenues will total $3,416,262 for 2008.
Other factors that impact increased expenditures include: protective services (ambulance, bylaw enforcement, animal control and fire), environmental health (solid waste disposal, camera inspection of all sewer lines and major lift station repairs), transportation and public works (tree trimming program) and wages (wage grid updated to current average pay rates of five per cent).
The budget has a number of strategic planning priorities included. They include: the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), that Eckville and Lacombe County have agreed to do, will provide both municipalities with a plan that will reduce potential land use conflicts and address community concerns; a Building Data Collection Project that will provide an assessment of conditions of municipally owned buildings; a Forced Sewer Main/Lift Station Upgrade Rehabilitation Report; Road Cost Analysis Report and Regional Emergency Response Plan.
The budget includes contributions and grants made to local groups and organizations which include Eckville Community Centre ($5,000), Eckville Arena ($22,000), Eckville Municipal Library ($20,000), the Eckford Scholarship ($750), Recreation Funding Program ($10,000) and insurance premium refunds to the community centre, arena and Agriculture Society ($5,550).
“I think it is fair that residents only pay an increase on what their property was assessed,” said councillor Gord Ebden. “People in other municipalities are going to be paying higher taxes so I think this is a reasonable budget.”
The budget will be posted on the town’s website and the next council meeting will include first reading of the tax bylaw.