The Town of Turner Valley has passed their 2019 budget.

Overall operational spending is going up 1.8 per cent, to $5,786,971, but because of efficiencies found by Council, the increased spending won't be felt by taxpayers.

Mayor Barry Crane says the way the math works, it's pretty much the same as 2018.

"It's a little strange to say we're even, but we're up. We've got some efficiencies built in, kind of as a redundancy and so, if we need it it'll be there. But if we don't, it comes back as a surplus at the end of the year. Kind of like the 2018 budget, we just ended up with a $200,000 surplus, give or take. So that goes into reserves.

The first stage of the capital budget is set at $417,000.

Crane, says they're happy with how it turned out.

"We're quite happy we got it out of the way and now we can step back and look at our strategic planning as a Council and see where our next priorities are going to sit. We're pretty happy with the process. It took a little longer, but we got the reductions we were looking for."

Crane says they won't know if residential taxes will be going up or down until the Spring when the Province releases what they'll be looking at for school boards and seniors.

In a release the Town outlined some of their capital spending priorities.

Most of the projects will be financed through municipal grants.

• GPS system purchase

• Flare ‘n Derrick community hall renovations

• Rubber tire backhoe purchase

• Alley apron paving project

• Emergency management – structural protection unit

• Municipal enforcement vehicle and body cameras

• Solar-powered cross walk, Kennedy and Main Street

• Ice rink safety netting

• North entrance sign

• Self-contained breathing apparatus – fire department

 

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