Finance Committee approves proposed 2019-2022 Operating Budget after ‘sober second look’

First, members of the finance committee approved a directional resolution to reduce the $3 million set aside for strategic council initiatives early on the process by $644,355 based on Finance Committee’s approval of one-time initiatives.

That leaves $2,355,645 at council’s discretion moving forward.

Next was an amendment to N-75, which was the Allied Arts Council Fee for Service. The amendment further approved $32,535 in 2019, $33,185 in 2020, $33,850 in 2021 and $35,525 in 2022, in funding through taxation.

The intent of the money is to ensure Casa remains fully staffed and able to meet the needs and service levels in the community. Councillor Jeff Carlson also stated it was 1/7 of the original ask.

It passed on a 6-3 vote, after much procedural debate.

The third resolution debated was on Fort Whoop-Up operations being included in the 2019 to 2022 operating budget for the Galt Museum. The amount is $198,600 per year for four years, with existing taxation as the funding source.

It was moved by Parker, for the purpose of taking the money which is currently in the Recreation and Culture budget and moving it into the Galt Museum and Archives budget.

Again, after some discussion about process, it passed by an 8-1 vote.

As far as the process is considered, Parker says he thought it was a really good idea to have one more look at things before sending it back to council.

“My directional resolution that I brought forward, I thought this might be a good time to do it and it was successful. It gave other members of council an opportunity to look over all the initiatives, and if they felt something needed to be changed or something new brought forward, they had ample opportunity to do it.”

And what about any more hiccups moving forward, or will this be the budget passed on Dec. 10?

“What I learnt in this process is don’t assume anything, but I know under the Municipal Government Act we have to have something passed in regard to an Operating Budget no later than December 31st of this year,” Parker explained. “So, I’m hoping on December 10th we’ll have an approved budget that will be approved by council as a whole.”

Different departments were asked going into budget deliberations to try and get creative with their numbers, and the final number of 1.82% represents the lowest tax increase in Lethbridge over the past 20 years, according to Parker.

“I think that can’t be emphasized enough, and I also believe our City Manager has been given direction to even find a way to get that number even lower. I’m encouraged that he can find efficiencies through his reviews, to find value for our dollar, at the end of the day I don’t know what it’s going to look like in the next year or two, but we’re predicted at 1.82 right now,” Parker stated, adding he’s optimistic about the result, but has to be realistic as well moving forward.

The Operating Budget saga could come to an end this time next week, on Dec. 10, when City Council will vote on its final approval.

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Finance Committee approves proposed 2019-2022 Operating Budget after ‘sober second look’

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