December 8, 2015 — Rocky View County Council has approved a 2016 operating and capital base budget that reflects the current economic climate facing many Albertans. The base budget allows the County to operate in the new year, but the final County budget is not approved until April of 2016.
The base 2016 operating budget funds the core services that Rocky View County provides to the community, such as road maintenance, bylaw enforcement, and recreation. The budget calls for
$115.91 million in operating spending, down $5.37 million from 2015.
About $55.28 million of the 2016 spending will come from user fees, development fees, provincial grants, and revenue streams other than property taxes, down $5.52 million from 2015.
On the capital side, the base budget includes $49.89 million in planned projects, such as road paving, new radios for emergency services personnel, and a new municipal building in the County.
Between now and April, Councillors will discuss any new or currently unfunded initiatives they believe the County should undertake, such as road upgrades, storm water projects, fire hall construction, or other projects. The base budget includes an average one percent property tax increase, which would allow for $465,600 in new or currently unfunded projects. Council can adjust that amount in the final budget as they assess the need for additional initiatives.
The actual amount of 2016 property taxes any one individual landowner pays depends on a combination of the tax rate Council sets in April and the assessed value of their property as of mid- 2015. Property assessments will be sent to landowners early in the new year.
The operating and capital base budget is available for viewing online at www.rockyview.ca. The full budget and the 2016 Tax Rate Bylaw will be finalized at a public meeting in April.
Hmmm….. Raising taxes in order to afford less than half a million dollars in infrastructure. No mention of the $42 million dollar Municipal Offices that will use up our next 4 years of MSI (provincial funding) as well as $10 million of our reserves.
I don’t recall a Municipal Office even making the list when residents were asked what RVC needed. How did it become our number one priority.
Unless the economy makes a quick turnaround County residents can expect substantial tax increases in the next few years.
https://www.change.org/p/stop-rocky-view-county-s-plans-to-spend-42-million-on-a-new-administration-building?recruiter=446562966&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink