MD of Bonnyville passes 2017 Interim Budget

Roads continue to be priority with $45 million budget

The Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved a $99,837,954 interim, balanced budget (not including school and lodge requisitions) at its meeting on Wednesday.

The 2017 budget will be funded through $65.48 million in municipal taxes, $7.58 million in government grants and contributions, $17.54 million from General Revenues, such as fees, equipment replacement program, and reserves. A further $9.23 million will come from transfers from surplus (reserve funds carried over from projects and funds remaining from previous years’ budgets).

In 2017, Council is again directing the majority of the budget to roads projects.

“As in the past, Council’s focus is to improve and maintain our largest assets – roads. Having said this, we plan to continue to pave and oil as many roads as possible, while continuing to ensure, especially in this economy, that the municipality is able to maintain its staffing levels,” said Reeve Ed Rondeau.

The Ardmore Underground and Road Replacement Project will continue in 2017 with $3 million in funding, while the paving of Gurneyville Road is scheduled to go ahead with an $8 million price tag.

2017 will see the M.D. again cooperating with our urban neighbours, with $5 million set aside for the Inter Municipal Cooperation Program. The Village of Glendon will receive approximately $515,055 and the City of Cold Lake will receive approximately $645,800. The Town of Bonnyville will receive approximately $3,840,000, including about $800,000 for the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre.

“In keeping with 2016, Council will continue to work with our neighbouring municipalities through the Inter Municipal Cooperation Program to make sure projects that will benefit the region, are completed,” Rondeau said.

Additionally, Council has agreed to continue to fund the Senior’s Transportation Grant at $60,000, while Community Halls and Societies will have access to $575,000 for capital and operating costs.

Continuing in the vein of cooperation, the M.D. will provide funding support for the Bonnyville and Cold Lake museums, Beaver River Regional Waste Management Commission, Family and Community Social Services (FCSS) in Bonnyville and Cold Lake, Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority and the libraries in the two major urban communities.

M.D. Council will take another look and pass the final 2017 budget in the spring, after receiving the Education Requisition from the provincial government.