Red Deer County JANUARYNews JANUARY 2015 2015 PAGE 1 Exciting New Year Ahead Progressive Growth, Traditional Values Infrastructure Upgrades Bridges & Roads in 2015 Discover Budget Highlights on Page 2 Facebook.com/ WHAT’S INSIDE reddeercounty YEAR OF THE WETLAND... ..................... PAGE 9 FIRE SERVICE AWARDS... ..................... PAGE 10 Follow us on Twitter DEVELOPMENT STATS... ...............PAGE 19 & 20 @reddeercounty GALAXY the right choice LANTERN STREET RED DEER “Proud to be in Red Deer County” 76471A3 Gasoline Alley, Red Deer County • www.reddeertoyota.com 403-343-3736 1-800-662-7166 Red Deer County News JANUARY 2015 PAGE 2 JANUARY 23, 2007 Red Deer County Approves 2015 Budget County funding a wide variety of local initiatives and infrastructure. The 2015 Operating and Capital budgets of more than $6M, as several major one-off were approved by Council at their regular projects are now completed. 2015 will see no Some highlights of the 2015 meeting on December 9. The budget was changes in special levies; the Environmental budget include: passed unanimously by Council, and took levy remains at 0.1590, Protective Services into account the public feedback gathered remains at 0.5000, and Community Services • Kevisville landfill reclamation project $1,500,000 over the past two weeks. remains at 0.4000. • Bridge repairs $4,100,000 Mayor Jim Wood commented, “Red Deer Heather Gray, Director of Corporate Services • Road paving program $6,000,000 County Council is pleased to see an overall for the County said, “We remain in a very • Airport expansion request $1,727,500 decrease in capital spending, while still healthy fiscal position. Our capital spending • Sylvan Lake Multiplex (over 2 yrs.) $1,100,000 accomplishing major construction projects is down and our reserves are strong. The that allow our ratepayers to live and work in County is being very forward thinking with Summary of Capital and Operating Expenses (Budgeted): a great municipality.” this budget.” 2014 2015 The Operating budget will see a modest For a detailed look at the approved 2015 Capital $27,437,553 $20,530,588 increase of roughly one million - from $45.4M budget, residents can go to www.rdcounty.ca to $46.4M. However, over $3M of this will be and see the detailed financial information as Operating $45,441,289 $46,425,598 set aside to consider outside funding requests. presented to Council. Capital debt $720,244 $754,679 Capital spending will see a major reduction Total $73,599,086 $67,710,865 2015 Budget Highlights How funds are allocated by Red Deer County Expenditures 7% 56% I Operating Capital Total 6% A Infrastructure and Roads ($37.3M) 18,846,170 18,496,510 37,342,680 7% Agriculture ($1.6M) 1,466,741 190,000 1,656,741 W Water, Waste Water & Waste ($6.0M) 5,333,464 674,078 6,007,542 Council and Legislative ($1.4M) 1,435,092 - 1,435,092 10% C Corporate Services ($6.8M) 6,645,265 200,000 6,845,265 C Community Services ($4.8M) 4,311,112 500,000 4,811,112 2% Protective Services ($3.5M) 3,064,882 470,000 3,534,882 C Planning and Development ($4.8M) 4,763,331 - 4,763,331 9% P 45,866,057 20,530,588 66,396,645 3% P Contingency & Capital Debt 1,314,220 Infrastructure and Roads ($37.3M) 67,710,865 Agriculture ($1.7M) Water, Waste Water & Waste ($6.0M) Funding Sources Council and Legislative ($1.4M) Red Deer County’s primary source of revenue is derived from property taxes. Tax rates are determined in the spring, once individual property assessments are calculated. Municipalities Corporate Services ($6.8M) also collect school taxes, whose rates are set by the Province. Community Services ($4.8M) Total Taxes 43,928,378 Protective Services ($3.5M) Government Grants 10,680,392 Reserves Other (sales, user fees, permits, etc.) 7,332,924 Sources of Tax Revenue in Red Deer County Offsite Levies 774,078 The anticipated municipal Planning and Development ($4.8M) Transfers from Reserves 4,995,093 reserve position4% for 2015 is: Total Funding Sources 67,710,865 $30.5M 28% 27% Farmland ($1.5M) Residential ($12M) Reserves Non-Residential ($14.2M) The anticipated municipal Machinery & Equipment reserve position for 2015 is: 9% ($3.9M) $30.5M 32% Linear ($12.3M) Red Deer County News JANUARY 2015 PAGE 3 Council Members’ Meeting Attendance, Expense Claim Reporting and Conference Expenses This is the fourth quarterly report for the Mayor divisional town hall meetings, many community Councillor Church - $14,658.90 ($60,901.02) and Councillors for the November 2013 to October meetings such as local crime watch and volunteer Councillor Huelsman - $15,844.62 ($61,279.56) 2014 year. The report includes the number of appreciation evenings, School and 4H award Councillor Lorenz - $15,194.10 ($60,711.63) meetings members of Council were scheduled to events, grand opening celebrations, community Councillor Moore - $14,710.44 ($59,448.84) attend and the actual attendance at the meetings, parades and many local community fall suppers. Individual Councillors are allotted an annual as well as a reporting of Mayor/Councillor expense EXPENSE CLAIMS – the amounts members of amount of $6,500 each with the Mayor being claims for August 2014 to October 2014. Council are entitled to claim under the terms of allotted $8,500 for attendance at conferences. Scheduled meetings include County Council the Councillor Remuneration Policy are as follows: This fee includes all expenses related to the and Municipal Planning Commission meetings Mayor annual honorarium - $81,707.50 conference attendance – registration fees, hotel as well as meetings for the Committees/Board/ accommodations, travel costs, mileage, per diems Commissions that members of Council are Councillor annual honorarium - $57,347.50 (if claimed) and any expenses (i.e. parking, meals). appointed to as representatives of the County. A For out-of-County travel for attendance at The policy provides that a member of Council may listing of the appointments to these Committees/ County-related meetings, conferences, workshops, exceed his/her allotted budget provided the overall Board/Commissions was included in December seminars, Councillors are entitled to claim a per conference budget of $55,000 is not exceeded by 2013 edition of the County News and is also diem rate of $210 per day. receiving authorization for such overage by way posted on the County’s website (www.rdcounty. of a Council motion. This approval was given ca). Councillors are entitled to claim for mileage allowing Mayor Wood, Councillor Huelsman and travelled to County-related meetings/events at a MEETING ATTENDANCE for August 1, 2014, Councillor Moore to attend the Federation of rate of 54 cents per kilometre for the first 5000 Canadian Municipalities conference in Niagara to October 31, 2014, is as follows: kilometres annually and then at a rate of 48 Mayor Jim Wood attended 10 of 12 scheduled Falls, Ontario in May/June this year. The totals paid cents per kilometre (the provincial rate as set for Mayor/Councillor attendance and participation meetings (83.3% attendance) by the Canada Revenue Agency). Due to the Councillor Philip Massier attended 13 of 13 at conferences since October 25, 2013, are as large geographic area covered within the County’s follows: scheduled meetings (100% attendance) municipal boundaries, the mileage claims vary Councillor Jean Bota attended 13 of 15 scheduled Mayor Wood - $9,522.04 substantially as they are dependent on where the Councillor Massier - $2,504.95 meetings (86.7% attendance) Mayor/Councillor resides. Councillor Don Church attended 15 of 15 Councillor Bota - $4,887.21 scheduled meetings (100% attendance) The Councillor Remuneration Policy in its entirety Councillor Church - $3,832.54 Councillor Connie Huelsman attended 14 of 14 is posted on the County’s website (www.rdcounty. Councillor Huelsman - $7,598.66 scheduled meetings (100% attendance) ca) or a copy is available by contacting the County Councillor Lorenz - $3,826.87 Councillor Richard Lorenz attended 14 of 14 office at 403-350-2152. Councillor Moore - $7,585.18 scheduled meetings (100% attendance) Following is the listing of the Mayor’s/Councillors’ Copies of Councillors’ expense claim sheets are Councillor Christine Moore attended 17 of 17 expense claims for the fourth quarter from posted on the County’s website scheduled meetings (100% attendance) (www.rdcounty.ca) August 1, 2014, to October 31, 2014 (total claims In addition to the regular scheduled meetings, since October 25, 2013): Further information in relation to this Council members of Council were kept busy during the Mayor Wood - $22,878.72 ($92,813.84) policy is available by contacting Legislative Services fourth quarter participating in Tour of Alberta Councillor Massier - $14,579.88 ($58,022.52) at 403-350-2152. events and races, Red Deer Cattle Round-up, Councillor Bota - $15,202.53 ($60,888.58) We Welcome Your “What’s Happening” Feedback! You can contact us with questions or comments at [email protected] In Red Deer County? Red Deer County News is a free monthly publication available to all County residents. Having an Upcoming Community Event? - We are happy to list upcoming festivals, Current issues of the County News are available free of community fairs, reunions, and other community events in this ‘What’s Happening’ charge at the Red Deer County Centre, or can be viewed online at www.rdcounty.ca calendar of County News. Contact us at [email protected] with event details. MANAGING EDITOR: 2015 Alberta Firefighter’s Provincial Curling Championship – in Olds on January 28 to ADAM FERGUSON Corporate Communications Coordinator 31, 2015. The Championship will attract twenty-five teams from across Alberta, and the PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION: winning team will be competing in the Canadian Firefighter’s Curling Championship - RED DEER ADVOCATE representing Alberta - later on in the year.