During their Dec. 14 regular council meeting, Blackfalds Town Council approved the 2022 capital budget, along with the interim operating budget, with the final budget to be adopted in the spring.
The 2022 capital budget features projects that will mainly be funded with non-tax-supported sources, including grants, town reserves, and debenture borrowing. Projects include the Blackfalds Centre Plaza, which will now be funded through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.
“The capital budget allows the Town to move forward with essential fleet and equipment replacements as well as major infrastructure projects that will enable future growth,” said Justin de Bresser, Director of Corporate Services.
The 2022 operating budget was prepared and reviewed through a collaborative process which began in the early summer with the approval of the budget timeline and public engagement using an internal survey provider. Over the past few months, administration and council had various discussions, presentations, and budget workshops regarding the budget and allowed administration and council to review the budget with compromise.
Council will also attend an annual budget workshop before the complete and final operating budget is brought forth.
Mayor of Blackfalds, Jamie Hoover said that council has been working with administration, following a carefully planned schedule of deliberation that will continue into the new year to finalize the 2022 budget in the first quarter of the year.
“As we have in the past, Council approved an interim budget based on the 2021 budget that we feel will continue services and operations at the same level into 2022 without changes or interruptions to the community,” said Hoover. “We expect that in the coming year, we will have to make some challenging decisions to find a balance in trying to meet the expectations of many of our residents who want to see the same, or increased level of services, while not wanting increases in taxes.”