Lac La Biche County councillors passed the municipality ’s 2011 budget last Tuesday. The $50 million document passed by one vote.
The budget, which calls for $3 million in reserve fund spending for various projects, and the use of surplus funds – those set aside for future projects – was seen as deficit spending by some councillors.
Coun. Tim Thompson was against using any reserve funds. Instead of approving the budget, he wanted administration to rework the finances so that surplus funds wouldn ’t be used. He said with the uncertain future of the bombing range assessment now was not the time to be spending rainy-day funds.
"I ’m requesting administration bring back a balanced budget,” he said.
Tax rates set
next week
But reworking the budget would take time that council didn ’t have, noted Mayor Peter Kirylchuk, with CAO Duane Coleman pointing out that the bylaw that outlines tax rates was to be presented to council at the April 26 council meeting. The time for adjusting the budget was over, noted the mayor.
Before Tuesday ’s meeting, council had spent seven days in budget discussion meetings.
Other councillors also had concerns with the document, with Coun. Gail Broadbent noting that the budget, which is roughly the same amount as last year, involved too much spending.
"I feel we need to be spending less. It goes against a lot of things I believe in,” she said, before asking administration if they could cut five to 10 per cent from the operating budget, and wondering aloud if perhaps the county was taking on too many projects and programs.
Other councillors felt the budget was fine, though, with Coun. MJ Seibold saying she felt pretty confident, overall, with the budget.
"Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree,” she said, adding that reserve funds were meant for special projects, so the funds should be used to pay for them.
Coun. Guy Piquette was satisfied, saying "we came up with a budget that addresses our needs in this county.”
A budget was merely a guideline, noted Coun. Aurel Langevin. There will always be ways to improve it, he said, but for now the prudent step was to approve the budget. "Let ’s get on with business.”
Councillors John Nowak and Alvin Kumpula, joined Thompson and Broadbent in voting against the budget.
