Banff politicians have begun wading through the 2017-19 budget, with some proposed new big-ticket items centred on trying to deal with the tourist town’s traffic and congestion woes.
The base operating budget presented by administration calls for a 4.51 per cent municipal tax increase; however, there are $1.7 million worth of proposed new initiatives for 2017, including $200,000 for a free Roam transit trial in the summer of 2017.
There’s also another $126,570 in funding requests from outside groups and agencies.
Town of Banff officials say every additional $242,000 spent equates to a one per cent tax increase.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said she does not known where the final tax increase will land.
“Administration provided us with a zero-based budget and council publicly and conscientiously is making decisions about what we’re going to add in, which is what impacts the tax increases,” said the mayor.
“In a lot of municipalities, administration will present all the new asks in the budget and those councils are seen as cutting, whereas our process is seen as building. Although it would be politically easier to do what many other municipalities do, it’s important to us that council is seen as making decisions about what levels of services we’re going to make.”
For the 2017 operating budget, there are 26 proposed new initiatives above and beyond the base budget. There are 17 new capital projects, including $250,000 for the design of a proposed Banff Avenue greenway.
In addition, there’s a proposed $3.3 million in in 2019 and $2.9 million in 2020 for transit projects. One of the big asks for 2017 is $200,000 for free transit to help deal with high visitation next year when national park entry fees are free.
There’s no wage increase presented for municipal employees next year, though it’s predicted staff will see a two per cent wage increase in 2018 and 2019. There are, however, several new staff positions under consideration.
A previously approved $85,380 economic prosperity position has been chopped from the budget.
Since deliberations began last Wednesday (Nov. 16), council has tentatively approved an additional $378,850 in new service level funding for 2017. None of these decisions are final until council passes the operating budget in December.
Some of the new initiatives tentatively approved so far include:
• $81,400 for a full-time information governance coordinator position;
• $74,000 for a full-time IT support analyst position;
• $27,200 for a part-time businesses licence administrative support position. Base business licence fees will be increased to cover the cost of the position;
• $11,900 for a .3 fulltime equivalent GIS intern position;
• $38,150 for a comprehensive FireSmart public education program;
• $45,900 for a FireSmart combustible roof incentive program;
• $7,800 for a project to fence the Canada Day parade route;
• $70,000 for public space and Banff Refreshing streetscape master plan project;
• $75,000 a year for 2017, 2018 and 2019 set aside for update and review of Banff’s community plan.
Wednesday’s debate could not be reported before the Outlook’s deadline, but there was $80,000 proposed for a preliminary assessment for an aerial gondola and $60,000 for a proposed conventional transit plan development project.
Councillor Stavros Karlos said paid parking should be implemented to cover costs of transit-related projects.
“My intention is to run paid parking in 2017 and free transit,” he said during the Nov. 16 service review meeting.
There is a proposal coming forward to run free transit from late June to mid-September in 2017. The trial would be combined with a comprehensive marketing plan to get more people on buses.
There’s also talk of multi-million dollar intercept parking lots and shuttle services for the long-term to keep vehicles out of the downtown core.
Lost revenue from operating free transit is expected to be just shy of $200,000.
The goal of free transit is to see if it reduces traffic by increasing transit ridership on local bus routes, allowing for more seamless movement of people through the Town of Banff.
“The trial would also help inform future decisions regarding the price sensitivity of transit in Banff,” according to budget documents.
