The MD of Bonnyville Council will be spending over half of its $88.5 million 2015 budget on road improvements and maintenance.
Council approved their interim budget at a Dec. 10 meeting, which was highlighted by the decision to set aside $49.5 million for the roads in the municipality. That chunk of the budget, just over 55 per cent, will brake down and see $29 million go towards road improvement, $13.2 million for gravel and road oiling, $3.7 million going to Public Works equipment, and $3 million earmarked for the third phase of the Ardmore street improvement project.
Reeve Ed Rondeau said that taking proper care of the MD's roads is council's highest priority, but council has also allocated funds “to improve the quality of life for residents.”
Some of the projects in the plans for 2015 include: building a new LaCorey Fire Hall and Grader Shop, buying new fire trucks for Goodridge and Cold Lake, and a $150,000 expansion of the Kinosoo Ridge parking lot.
The 2015 interim budget will also see council make a commitment to regional cooperation, as they partner up with other municipalities to fund projects that will benefit the region.
“Council's priority is to deliver services to MD residents, but as a member of our integrated communities, the MD collaborates and partners with community organizations and neighbouring municipalities to enhance services for all residents throughout the region,” said Rondeau.
Regional projects such as landfill operations, supporting the Bonnyville Centennial Centre, donating to the Bonnyville, Glendon and Cold Lake Agricultural Societies and giving $158,000 towards the Glendon Arena renovations, help fill out the 2015 budget.
The budget expenditures will be funded for the most part by $58.04 million in taxes. A total of $12.26 million will come from surplus transfers, $11.59 million will come from general revenues such as fee and partnership dollars, and $6.67 million will be received through government grants.
Rondeaus says council had a tough time deliberating through the 2015 budget, as they were pressured to meet a wide variety of expectations.
“There is a misconception that the MD is flush with cash and can pay for everything. That is not true,” said Rondeau. “It was a balancing act this year as we went through the budget line-by-line to prioritize projects. Unfortunately some projects were placed into future budget years. Council knows that roads are always the first on the list, as most of our residents travel them everyday and they are taking a beating from increased traffic.”
Council will take another look at their interim budget in early 2015 once all of the year-end figures are completed and tallied. The provincial Education Requisition, which comes out at the start of each year, will also affect the budget.
Last year Council passed a 2014 interim budget of $83 million, only to see it jump all the way up to $98 million by the time the final budget was approved in April.