Corporate Services

Budget and Financial Statements

Thank you for your participation in the 2020 budget participation tool. Information gathered from this process, as well as feedback from the Coffee with Council sessions, was given to Council for review prior to final budget deliberations.

2019 Citizen Budget Tool Results Presentation

2020 Budget Release and Documents

2020 Operating and Capital Budgets

2020 Budget Report (Full Document)
2020 Budget Release

Edson, Alberta, December 4^th, 2019 – Council has approved the 2020 Capital and Operating Budgets with some minor changes to the Capital budget. The Budget uses the equivalent of a 3.97% municipal tax increase, down from the original proposal of 6.18%.

The 3.97% equivalent taxation increase will be funded 1.00% from taxation, and 2.97% though utility bills as the cost of recycling is transferred from taxation to utility bills. The actual taxes levied on an individual property will be dependent on their property assessment.

To achieve this reduction from the original proposal, the following changes have been implemented:

Election Reserve Contribution - Reduced from $11,000 to $5,000.
Capital Equipment Reserve Contribution - Reduced from $10,000 to $5,000
Planning Reserve Contributions - Both transfers have been removed from the budget ($35,000).
Recreation & Culture Reserve Contribution - Removed from budget ($2,000).
Operations Reserve for Landfill Operations - The Operations Operational Reserve will use $48,750 to offset the reduction in revenue due to the Landfill having reduced service for a major part of the year.
Interest Revenue Budget - Increased interest revenue by $50,000.
Policing Budget - Decreased by $100,000 as a reflection of actual costs based on average of previous years.

This budget was kept at a modest increase by reducing administrative costs, while maintaining services and increasing the commitment to future infrastructure needs.

Capital Budget

The Capital Budget was approved with the addition of $750,000 towards the Vision Park Well & Washroom Project (funds from Infrastructure Reserve), and the removal of $50,000 for the Dog Park Project. The Capital budget also includes:

$350,000 for Stormwater Management
$645,000 for the Snow Dump
$400,000 for the design work to repair 1^st Ave (48-54 Street)
$1,200,000 for a Road Recapping Program
$470,000 for a new Landfill Cell
$1,900,000 for the Vision park Well & Washroom Facility + $200,000 in general Vision Park Upgrades.
$5,000,000 ($2,500,000 Town of Edson, $2,500,000 Yellowhead County) towards the Multi-Use Facility Project.

The full list, as well as information on the budget process, public engagement results, and presentation budget document can be found online at www.edson.ca/budget.

The Town of Edson Council and Staff would like to thank everyone that took the time to participate in this process.

2020 Budget Workshop Recap

Edson, Alberta, October 22nd, 2019 – Edson Town Council held their annual budget workshop on October 19th, 2019. Administration presented Council with departmental operational budget requests, a capital budget plan, reserve fund updates, and a number of optional items for review. Council is considering a plan with the equivalent of a 5% tax increase for 2020. Some of that will be collected through taxation, with other portions coming through utilities. Highlights of the proposed changes are listed below.

Utility Rates

Water and Sewer Fees – An increase in water rates (2.2%) and sewer rates (4.4%) is being recommended for 2020. The new Asset Management Plan suggests an annual increase to utility rates to set aside funds for future infrastructure needs.
Waste Collection Fees - The waste collection charge will be increased $0.50 per month to reflect the agreed upon inflationary contract increase with GFL for curbside pickup.
Recycling Fees – It is being recommended that the cost of recycling is moved from taxation to utility bills. Recycling is considered a part of Waste Management. As such, the recycling costs should be reflected in Town utilities rather than being funded through taxation. This will also ensure all properties in town are contributing to the costs of recycling, including those that are tax exempt.

Under this plan, the average household can expect an increase of about $2.00/month to their utility bills, plus the additional $9.00 for recycling. Commercial recycling fees will be $15/month.

Capital

Several capital projects were discussed for the 2020 budget including:

$1,200,000 towards starting a road re-capping project.
$850,000 for provincially mandated ground monitoring and performance assessments on the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
$1,150,000 for the Vision Park Well and Washroom Facility.
$200,000 for General Vision Park Upgrades
$645,000 towards the Snow Dump
$50,000 for fencing for a new dog park location.

A full list can be found in the information package from the meeting at https://edson.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=335

Taxation

The proposed budget uses a 2.05% municipal tax increase; however, individual tax levies will be dependent on property assessments. Without moving recycling to utilities, this increase would be closer to 5%.

This increase allows the Town to maintain current service levels, as well as includes costs associated with the anticipated federal carbon tax increases and other inflationary pressures.

This is a proposal only and both Administration and Council will continue to work on possible adjustments and recommendations prior to the finalization of the budget in December.

Public Engagement

Residents will have a chance to have a say in the budget process through the budget engagement tool being launched at the end of the month. This will be available at www.edson.ca/budget.

The engagement tool will take residents through the budget, provide information, and allow taxpayers to indicate their preferred allocation of tax dollars. There is also opportunity to provide general feedback for each department. That information will then be compiled and presented to Council prior to final budget approval

A public information session with Council is also being planned in the coming weeks to answer questions and hear feedback on the proposed budget.

In the meantime, the Budget Workshop is available to view by following the links below.

Budget Workshop Part 1

Budget Workshop Part 2

2020 Budget Timeline

Budget Timeline

The Budget will be adopted by Council in December 2019 and finalized in the Spring of 2020, as there are some items that are not known at this time. Here is an anticipated timeline for the passing of the Budget:

October 19th, 2019 - Council Budget Workshop. Video pt 1 Video pt 2
End of October/Early November 2019 – Council Public Engagement through an online Budget Engagement Tool and Public Information Session (Nov 7, 2019)
November 26, 2019 – Public Engagement Results Presented to Council and final budget deliberations. Results
December 3, 2019 – 2020 Budget presented to Council for adoption Video
February 2020 – Assessment figures released to the Town
March/April 2020 – Requisition figures for Schools (AB Education) and Evergreens (Seniors Lodges) received
April 2020 – Revised Budget presented to Council.
May 2020 – Mill Rate Bylaw presented to Council, and tax notices sent to property owners.