Council Highlights – Town of Bonnyville for December 14th. 2021

Town of Bonnyville

Council Highlights

Regular Council Meeting – Dec. 14

BUDGET: Council passed the 2022 Interim Capital and Operating budgets during the meeting. In order to balance the $22.91-million Operational Budget, administration included a two per cent municipal tax increase, two per cent utility and garbage fee increase, the elimination of the reserve transfer to capital for future projects, and a transfer from the General Operating Reserve. The Interim Capital Budget is sitting at $20.97 million. Prior to Council’s meeting, administration reviewed the capital projects and reprioritized many of them over the next five years to help with balancing the Capital Budget. Administration anticipates a deficit of $608,460, which will be funded from the General Capital Reserve. The Municipal Government Act requires each municipality to pass a balancedIinterim Operating Budget prior to Dec. 31 annually. Both budgets can be amended prior to the passage of the 2022 Tax Rate Bylaw.

CANCELLATION: Due to Town facilities being closed on Dec. 28 in lieu of Christmas and Boxing Day being on the weekend, Council passed a motion to cancel the meeting scheduled for Dec. 28.

DELEGATION: Representatives from the Clayton Bellamy Foundation made a presentation to council, where they asked for financial assistance from the Town. The Foundation’s goal is to build a state-of-the-art theatre in Town and have raised roughly $180,000 toward that goal so far. The theatre will be run like a business by a non-profit and will be open to all local community groups that may need it. The financial request from the Foundation to the Town was $100,000, which will be discussed by council at a later meeting.