More provincial funding is coming to the Town of Stettler than expected, thanks to the generosity of the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI).
At its regular meeting March 2, town council received news that the town will get over $130,000 more than anticipated from MSI funds.
For 2010, the town will receive $1,319,887, which includes capital project funding of $1,056,814 and conditional operating funds of $263,073, states a letter from Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau.
“We have about $137,000 more than we expected,” said assistant chief administrative officer Greg Switenky.
“The provincial government continues to recognize the importance of predictable, sustainable funding for municipal infrastructure,” Goudreau stated in a letter to the town.
Streets Improvement Program
A grant of $350,580 has been approved from the provincial Streets Improvement Program for 2010 based on $60 per resident for a population of 5,843.
With a budget of $350,000, council approved a staff recommendation to award the tender for street upgrades under this program to Border Paving Ltd. for $253,260, the lowest of four tenders.
“We have to add some contingency, so we will likely have more than the $253,000,” said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.
“Council could consider adding new roads or carry the funds over to 2011.”
“We usually have about $100,000 budgeted for sidewalk and curbing upgrades.”
Federal gas tax fund
The Town of Stettler will also receive $325,631 annually from the Federal Gas Tax Fund (FGTF) – formerly the New Deal for Cities and Communities – for the next four years. Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette explained in a letter to council.
“We got about $170,000 more than we expected,” said Switenky.
This annual allocation is based on the 2009 official population of 5,843 as published by Alberta Municipal Affairs.
“I also remind the municipality that no new funds can flow to the municipality until Alberta Transportation staff has been advised that the Multi-Year Capital Infrastructure Plan and the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan requirements have been met,” said Ouellette.