CANMORE – Canmore’s elected officials have voted to approve changes to its 2020 operational and capital budgets, with a total overall increase to municipal property taxes of 4.8 per cent expected in 2020.
While council originally approved a 4.6 per cent increase to municipal property taxes (equal to $1.13 million) last year as part of its multi-year budgeting process, 11 amendments were made to the 2020 budget with a net increase to the operational budget of $69,000 as a result. That put the overall municipal property tax rate next year at a final 4.8 per cent increase, which was approved by council at its Dec. 3 meeting.
“In 2018, council approved a two-year operating and capital budget covering 2019-20, so we already have an approved budget for 2020,” said Chelsea Richardson, the Town’s manager of finance.
“For the amendment process, the budget ... [was] not opened up for a comprehensive review, the amendments are really meant to be the exception for demands that meet the criteria of extraordinary, unexpected, or emergent.”
The final approved 2020 budget for the Town of Canmore included $55 million in operating expenditures and $19.5 million in capital projects. The total amount of municipal property taxes to be collected next year was set at $26 million, which includes the final 4.8 per cent increase.
In-house legal counsel
Administration proposed an additional $170,000 for the 2020 operating budget to hire in-house legal counsel. It was one of the more contentious issues discussed, with several councillors raising concerns surrounding the salary, which would be larger in a private sector.
“We believe that there’s a lifestyle and location choice that Canmore has an advantage of,” said Chief Administrative Officer Lisa de Soto. “At the finance committee, we had discussed whether this salary range was sufficient, this is at the top tier salary range within the organization.
"It’s likely less than what a lawyer on a partner track in a large law firm would make in the city, so there would be a distinct decision to sort of leave that partner track, which comes with higher upside in pay scale, but quite a different work load and environment.”
For Coun. Joanna McCallum, the proposed budget item did not feel complete and she asked if it would be possible for council to look at a list of candidates prior to a decision being made.
“I actually have real concerns about this and I think I expressed that in finance committee, and it's not about the idea of in-house counsel, it’s about the idea of expecting to get everything we’d want for Christmas for that wage,” said McCallum.
“I honestly don’t think it’s actually possible without compromising in some shape or form and when it comes to our legal, it’s not something I’m interested in compromising. I’m more concerned to hear that you haven’t put together a job description yet because it feels to me that this budget item isn’t complete.”
De Soto said in terms of councillors seeing a list of candidates, that’s “not the sandbox from which council typically plays.”
“Certainly if counsel wishes to outline what their expectations are from a qualities and a candidate perspective, absolutely administration would welcome that and value that,” said de Soto.
McCallum put forward an unsuccessful motion to remove the introduction of in-house legal counsel and have that budget remain as a contracted services line item.
“I don’t disagree with the need for this position, I understand the arguments behind this position, I believe legal is very important to our organization,” said McCallum.
“However, I don’t think that with the money we have set aside we’re going to get the calibre of lawyer that we are looking for and to rely on the stars aligning so that somebody that’s looking for a lifestyle change and has all the experience we’re looking for – which is a pretty big mix of experience – is going to want to come here for half of what they’d be paid in the private sector. I just don’t’ see that as feasible or realistic.”
Mayor John Borrowman had a different perspective and said he wouldn’t support the amendment.
“I know $170,000 may seem like not a lot of compensation in the legal world, but it’s also not chump change,” he said.
Coun. Vi Sanford also said she wouldn’t support the motion.
“I think having in-house legal counsel would actually help us a lot with our day-to-day legal issues,” she said.
Transportation
Canmore’s elected officials voted to increase Bow Valley Regional Transit's requisition by $20,000, as well as an additional $50,000 to increase service hours for the regional route between Canmore and Banff.
“Transportation is one of the strategic priorities identified by council, and there are four amendments to this – two operational, two capital,” said Richardson.
In terms of capital projects in the budget residents can expect in 2020, officials approved $100,000 to start a preliminary design for intercept parking on the lot adjacent to the current parking area at Elevation Place and behind the provincial building.
As well, an additional $35,000 will be used to evaluate other spaces throughout the Town for potential intercept parking areas and strategies. The proposed funding for these amendments would come from the cash-in-lieu of parking reserve.
Environment and sustainability
“Another strategic priority is around environmental sustainability,” said Richardson.
“On the operating side, it’s an addition $12,000 to provide increased tracking expense on our fleet ... that information will go into a electric vehicle feasibility study.”
On the capital side, the Town has approved $60,000 to go towards a renewable energy feasibility study and an electric vehicle fleet feasibility study.
Coun. McCallum asked about specifics surrounding electric vehicle charging and implementation into the neighbourhoods in Canmore, specficially regarding the feasibility study plans.
“Renewable energy feasibility plan, [is this] making sure we’re planning our communities, our future neighbourhoods and our existing neighbourhoods, for the upgrades required to be able to receive that kind of technology in the future,” asked McCallum.
De Soto said the study isn’t specific to electric car charging,
“It’s more about looking at alternative energy sources that would be feasible to implement in our community,” said de Soto.
“Less about the electric vehicles charging I think you’re referring too. These would be potential district energy sources, looking at solar arrays, micro-energy project for facility buildings – those kinds of things.”
Additionally, there wasn a $20,000 increase to the $50,000 budget for projects to address issues around human-use and wildlfie conflict in the community.
“That project includes four separate items within it; the Quarry Lake dog park signage and boundary delineation, a social norms implementation, our fruit tree removal plan, and then the fruit tree incentive program on private property,” said Richardson.
Overnight camping
Officials voted to add an additional $110,000 to support administration's work manaing overnight parking on municipal lots after last summer's marked increase in homelessness in the community.
The new initiative will see $40,000 doled out for enforcement purposes and seasonal support, $20,000 for materials and supplies, which may include signs, supports to partners, awareness and advertising, and up to $10,000 for any miscellaneous costs that arise.
Coun. McCallum, noting the refined plan would still have to come before council, asked if the allotted funds were sufficient.
“Do we expect that that $110,000 is now going to be permanent in our budget moving forward?”
Sally Caudill, the Town's general manager of municipal services, said currently, that’s unknown.
“Honestly, we’re unsure. I don’t think that is the assumption, but until we do the work, we really don’t know,” she said.
Also approved in the capital budget was a $55,000 increase in custodial services at the Canmore Recreation Centre, which will see a new contract for custodial services.
Due to an increase in power expenses, the Town also expects to spend an additional $107,000 in electricity utility fees, which Richardson said is due to increased transmission and distribution charges.
Cancelled projects
Canmore’s elected officials voted to cancel three capital projects that weren’t started during 2019 for various reasons.
A $30,000 budget for a shared information government service project was scrapped after it did not proceed due to staffing changes, explained Richardson.
A $15,000 temporary public art project was cancelled in order to accommodate the Town launching its organic diversion program, which saw local artist Pascale Ouellette design an art piece for the new bins.
An $80,000 project to install mititgation in Stone Creek was cancelled as it was no longer required in order to protect development in the Silvertip area.
