While municipal leaders are still optimistic of support from the provincial budget released last Thursday, school divisions were more apprehensive with the deficit scenario.
Town of Stettler
“The government promised not to balance the budget on the backs of municipalities, and for the most part kept their word,” said Stettler Mayor Dick Richards.
“We, however, will see some impacts at the local level.”
Eliminating the Summer Temporary Employment Program to provide summer work for students is significant.
“STEP funding for summer employment is eliminated and this has an impact to the town of $6,400,” Richards said.
“The town is able to absorb such a loss, but non-profits that utilize this program may require assistance from the town and county.”
The Community Spirit Grant is eliminated and he said that would hurt the Heartland Youth Centre, Stettler Handi-Bus and other non-profit groups.
Funding from the Community Facility Enhancement Program is reduced from 45.7 million to 38 million.
“Non-profit organizations like the skatepark group and Kinsmen/Kinettes may be impacted and as we all know this is where upgrades to places like playgrounds, halls, curling rinks, spray parks and pathways come from,” Richards said.
He was happy, however, that funding for the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) program will be maintained.
“Moving forward, the town needs sustainable funding and that is what MSI does for us, so that was great news,” Richards said.
But the MSI operational funding will be eliminated over three years, which will mean a loss to the town of $91,355, but those funds will be moved to the Municipal Collaboration Grant.
“We will be able to utilize these funds through joint programs completed by the town and county and villages,” Richards said.
“As demonstrated in recent history with the Stettler sports park development, library expansion and future renovations at Stettler Recreation Centre, the town and county’s partnership will afford us the ability to continue to provide the services our residents have grown to expect.
“Moving forward, both the federal and provincial governments have let us know that regional collaboration on projects is a must.”
School requisitions appear to be increasing substantially due to a larger “live tax base,” the mayor said.
Alberta’s core ministries of municipalities, health and education were top priorities in the budget under Premier Alison Redford.
“The budget meets Premier Redford’s commitment not to balance our books on the backs of municipalities,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths, the MLA for Battle River–Wainwright.
County of Stettler
County of Stettler discovered it needs to bridge a gap to find funding that has been cut for bridges.
“It was a fair budget — it was the best with what they have,” said County of Stettler Wayne Nixon.
No funding for rural bridges was the biggest blow, he said.
“We’ve already shut down one bridge.”
For municipalities, the budget also adds funding for greater inter-municipal and regional collaboration, modern health facilities, school facilities and safe highways, affordable housing and policing.
While the county reeve supports funding for collaboration and regional projects, he said it would be difficult to devise several of those projects.
Nixon also agrees that more funding for health facilities will help the Stettler region, he suggests that Alberta Health Services need to do some of its own trimming.
“This is a budget to trim some of the waste and ministries have room to improve within themselves,” Nixon said.
Village of Donalda
Donalda council is also relatively pleased with the budget and that MSI funding remains as a major support for municipalities to complete capital projects.
“I think municipalities are OK,” said Donalda Mayor Bruce Gartside.
He was positive about support for municipalities.
“We had been talking to Doug (Griffiths) before the budget and he told us that support would remain for municipalities,” Gartside said.
“I’m satisfied with that because a lot of other ministries took hits — I really can’t complain.”
Agriculture
In the agricultural component of the budget, the government placed priority on rural development and industry, and market development, and continued funding for agricultural societies at the same levels.