Bonnyville council sees $1.7M in asks from community groups and facilities

The Town of Bonnyville will contemplate the $1.7 million in requests from community groups during the next budget deliberations.

After a myriad of delegations in recent weeks, the Town will be thinking of creative ways to toe the line with a draft budget showing a deficit.

The majority of that money is spent to operate town run facilities like the Centennial Centre and Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority, while just over $200,000 are asks from the Bonnyville and District SPCA, the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce, the Cold Lake Air Show and Extreme Mudfest.

Shrouded over the town’s budget discussions is the decision about the ID 349, Cold Lake Air Weapons Range money, which could be finalized by the end of the year, and a potential deficit of $6 million for projects and infrastructure and $1 million in operating costs.

“We are going to have to as a council really look hard at all of our funding, not just to community groups, but to all the programs that we have. And we’re gonna have to take a hard look at our capital,” said new Deputy Mayor Brian McEvoy.

“There may be some projects that we have to stretch out a little further down the road. It’s unfortunate. But there is only so much money out there,” he said.

Bonnyville residents will get to voice their opinion at the annual budget open house on Dec. 3.

Town council will go through a second draft budget at their next meeting on Nov. 26.