The first day of deliberations for the 2023-2026 City of Lethbridge Operating Budget has concluded. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Day one recap: City of Lethbridge budget deliberations

Nov 15, 2022 | 11:18 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Discussions are well underway for the City of Lethbridge 2023-2026 Operating Budget.

Monday, November 14, 2022, was the first day of the week-long deliberation in council chambers.

The draft budget includes annual property tax increases of approximately 3.77% for each of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen previously told LNN that tax hikes were unavoidable.

“It’s been a struggle, and we know that we’ve been at zero percent [property tax increases] for three years,” said Hyggen. “We know that with the cost of inflation and of course a lot of the other different other challenges we’re experiencing with expenses, it’s going to be tough to stay at that, at zero percent.”

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According to a media release from the City of Lethbridge, the following items were included in the first day of budget talks:

• C-1: Salute our Veterans
  • Proposed funding source is through a Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR) one-time allocation of $22,000 per year for each of the four years. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, then an additional 294 Veterans banners could be installed at more locations in 2023-2026.
• C-2: Fire Hydrant Water Drinking Fountain
  • Proposed funding source is through a MRSR one-time allocation of $15,000 in 2023. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, it would make drinking water freely available in select public areas during the summer months, with stations locally fabricated for installation May through September 2023.
• C-3: Spring Cleanup Program
  • In a unanimous vote, this item was defeated.
• C-4: Highway 3 Twinning Membership
  • Proposed funding source is taxation for $10,000 per year for each of the four years. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, the membership with H3TDA will support the Mission and Vision to collaboratively and actively advocate for the completion of twinning Highway 3 from the B.C. border to Medicine Hat, as a safe and regional economy supporting trade and tourism corridor of the provincial and national transportation network.
• C-5.1: Affordable and Social Housing Operating Grant
  • This item was removed, as it was ruled to be out of order due to an existing motion from the October 19 Economic SPC meeting.
• C-5.2: Municipal Housing Strategy (MHS) Updates
  • In a unanimous vote, this item was defeated.
• C-5.3: Affordable and Social Housing Capital Grant (ASHCG)
  • In a 7-2 vote, this item was defeated. Councillor Jeff Carlson had proposed an amendment to change the potential funding source from taxation to a MRSR one-time allocation of $412,500 in 2023 in order to gauge the efficacy of the program. The amendment was defeated in a 5-4 vote.
• C-5.4: Development Project Coordinator (Concierge) #1 & Housing Initiative (Land Banking) #2
  • In a 5-4 vote, this item was defeated.
• C-5.5: Land Use Bylaw Update
  • Proposed funding is through MRSR for $355,000 in 2023, $455,000 in 2024 and $355,000 in 2025. From an 8-1 vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, Land Use Bylaw amendment options could be discussed that would facilitate the approval of affordable housing projects in the City. In addition, Administration has identified that a further, more comprehensive review of the Land Use Bylaw is required. This work will require a full-time term position for a three-year term and monies for public engagement and notification pursuant to the MGA requirements and the City’s Electronic Advertising bylaw.
• C-6: Parking Fines
  • Proposed revenue generation would be $160,000 per year for each of the four years in the Offstreet Parking Reserve, as well as proposed revenue generation of $90,000 per year for each of the four years in the MRSR, for a total proposed impact of $1 million in the four-year budget cycle. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, this initiative will increase the fee for on-street parking fines from $25 to $50 while maintaining the $15 reduction if payment is received within seven days from the date of the offence.
• C-7.1: Fee Assistance Program
  • Proposed funding through GST funding would be $200,000 per year for each of the four years. From a 7-2 vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, this would include the purchase of transit fare for individuals and families who meet the following criteria: is a Lethbridge resident and qualifies under our low income status criteria.
• C-7.2: Lethbridge Transit Fare Decrease
  • This item was tabled to later in the deliberations.
• C-8: Chief of Staff Positions for Mayor and Council/Staff Reporting Changes
  • This item was tabled to later in the deliberations.
• C-9: Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee of City Council
  • This item was tabled to later in the deliberations.
• C-10: City Wide Sponsorship Program
  • Proposed funding is through a MRSR one-time allocation of $63,000 in 2023 and $83,000 in 2024, with the potential for conditional funding through sponsorship of $83,000 in both 2025 and 2026. From a 6-3 vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval.
  • If the project is approved, ENMAX Centre would significantly expand its sponsorship program to sell the naming, programming, signage and events assets throughout the City of Lethbridge. The goal would be to generate additional new revenue throughout the City of Lethbridge that would either expand programming without additional expense or provide a reduction of tax support to current programs or assets.

Budget deliberations take place each day this week from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The meetings are open to the public and will be live streamed on the City of Lethbridge YouTube Page and on Shaw TV Lethbridge. Agendas for each day’s proceedings are on the City of Lethbridge website.

Updates are also being posted to the @LethCityClerk Twitter page.

The full draft 2023-2026 Operating Budget can be accessed on the city’s website.

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