The CAMROSE BOOSTER, November 30, 2021 – Page 20
City offers fun activities
Darrin & Cheryl’s share: $1385✽
By Lori Larsen
You can give the gift of your time and talent to someone this year with a handcrafted piece of art or decoration that you made yourself during one of the City of Camrose’s seasonal programs. Camrose youth are invited to participate in Youth Art Class offered Wednesday, December 1 from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Chuck MacLean Arts Centre. What about giving someone a special handcrafted decoration that will be appreciated for many years? Children can join the City of Camrose Kids’ Craft event on December 18 from 10 a.m. until noon and make bell Christmas decorations out of clay pots. Then adults are invited to the Adult Craft Event on December 18 from 1 until 3 p.m. to craft Christmas string art on distressed wood. Supplies are included in the cost of registration. Visit the City of Camrose website at www.c amr o s e .c a/en/ recreation- an d-leisure/ pr o g r am s - an d- c our s e s . aspx#Christmas-Craft-Day to check availability. What a wonderful way to express your creative side, get out of the house and visit with some other crafty Camrosians. Participants must show proof of vaccination through a QR code, a current negative PCR test or exemption. Social distancing and masking will be in effect. Just because it is winter doesn’t mean there can’t be adventure. The City of Camrose will be hosting a three-day Mini Winter Adventure Camp for children ages six to 12 on December 28, 29 and 30 from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Participants will spend the days with camp staff snowshoeing, building snowpeople, tobogganing (weather permitting), playing games and doing crafts. There are only 40 spots available. If you are ready to slide out of 2021 and into 2022, then the City of Camrose has a family fun-filled way to do just that, with the New Year’s Eve Day Tobogganing Party. Details are in the planning for a fun and safe way to bring in the New Year. Stay tuned for more details–don’t let this party “slip” away from you. City of Camrose recreational facilities follow the Restriction Exemption Program.
This is Darrin and Cheryl. In 2020, they got a $1385 profit shares return. They invested their share in their business, Holbie’s Glass. It’s been a fixture in Killam for 25 years – almost as long as Darrin and Cheryl have been Vision members. Cheryl likes banking with Vision for that little-bit-extra feeling she gets from profit shares. Darrin says the best part is the greeting he gets when he calls the branch: “What do you need, Holbie?”
whatsyourshare.ca Real people. Real results.
City 2022 budget
of four years to fully fund debt servicing. No changes were recclient Vision Credit Union size 7" x 4.5" ommended to recycling and By Lori Larsen (including compensation) 1/4 page horizontal During the November 15 may be partially offset by solid waste collection. Bouck explained that the docket 3862 Cominsertion Week 5 City of Camrose increased user fees.” average household spends mittee of Whole meeting, Bouck explained that iVY desiGn inc. 403 275 3909 | info@ivydesign.ca approximately $44.10 per administration presented council previously passed month on water utility, the 2022 Budget for con- motion 414/21 to increase therefore a recommended sideration of any amend- the levy by $90,000 in order ments prior to the budget to ensure that all infla- three per cent increase receiving council approval tionary impacts are funded would equate to $1.32 extra at the December 6 regular (including the increase to monthly (for average housecouncil meeting. the Mayor and councillors’ hold) to $45.42, an annual The 2022 budget pre- remuneration approved by increase of $15.84 for the sented to current council the previous council during average household. Further, the averwas prepared in 2020 by the September 7 regular age household, according the council at that time in council meeting). to Bouck, spends approxiorder to provide the curA third anticipated mately $33.80 per month rent council with the option major variance reported by to utilize the approved bud- Bouck included increases on wastewater utility, get as a basis for any dis- to the overall cost of the therefore with a proposed cussions that may occur electricity and natural gas five per cent increase to during the first month(s) of forecasted revenues for the wastewater utility, an the current council’s four- service providers, resulting average household bill will year term. in additional franchise fee increase by $1.70 for a total Three options presented revenue expected to be real- bill of $35.50 monthly, and to current council including: ized in 2022 in compari- with an overall annual continue with the 2022 bud- son to the current budget. increase of $20.40. The franchise fee get as originally approved; Bouck suggested council amend the 2022 budget for consider amending the bud- revenues included in the major anticipated variances; or get to reflect the increases. 2022 current budget were restart the 2022 budget process. The final anticipated reported as follows: elecAdministration recom- significant variance listed tricity $2,254k (increase mended amending the 2022 in the report was that of one from 14 per cent to 15 per budget for major anticipat- piece of equipment (mower) cent), natural gas $1,628k ed variances as follows. within the fleet that will (remains at 27 per cent), The wastewater treat- need replacing years in totalling $3,882k. Bouck reported that ment plant (WWTP) project advance of the original esticosts have increased from mate due to the current con- based upon the latest cor$42.2 million to approxi- dition. “Funding will be sup- respondence from Fortis mately $51.2 million, plied from the Equipment and ATCO regarding the increasing the require- Reserve and no additional approved riders and forecasted consumption prices, ment for funding in the levy will be necessary.” form of debt (by $9 million), Within the 2022 Bud- and assuming that the which results in increased get (approved in 2020 by increase to 15 per cent on debt servicing costs in the the council of that time), electricity will come in effect future. “This may require utility rates included an on April 1, 2022, adminthe increase of utility rates increase of one per cent istration currently projects from the current budget to water, one per cent to the Franchise fee revenue to fund the debt servic- wastewater, and no changes will be as follows: electricing costs in the future,” to recycling or solid waste ity $2,333k, natural gas explained City of Camrose collection. Administra- $1,852k, totalling $4,185k. “The total levy to colFinancial Services general tion recommended amendmanager Travis Bouck, in ing the budget to increase lect based upon the curwater rates by three per rent budget is equal to his report to council. Bouck further reported cent to address longterm $26,294,110. Total taxes that a second major antici- asset management require- adjusted for growth in 2021 pated variance since the ments, and increase waste- were equal to $26,204,110. 2022 budget, which was water rates by five per This is equal to an increase approved in 2020, includes cent to fund increased debt in taxes of approximately a significant increase in servicing requirements on 0.3 per cent.” He further explained inflation. “In addition, the the WWTP project. Bouck budget included a freeze noted that a five per cent that the 2022 budget curin compensation for all lev- increase on wastewater rently contains a continels of staff in 2022. The will likely be required gency in the amount of impact of inflation on costs every year for a minimum $217,000 originally recordproject
Profit Shares Campaign 2021
publication
Camrose Booster the increased Country Booster
ed to cover inflationary costs, uncertainty due to COVID-19, and an estimate for vacancy allowance. “The inflationary costs and the vacancy allowance continue to need to be considered in conjunction with any amendment; however, administration does not believe that the $150,000 included within the contingency related to COVID-19 costs is required for 2022.” According to the report, administration estimates that considering the impact of a five per cent inflationary increase on fees and charges combined with the less-than-expected COVID-19 operational costs offsetting some of the inflationary concerns, that the required contingency is approximately $150,000 for 2022; a decrease of $67,000 from the $217,000 contingency included in the current budget. Bouck concluded, based upon the lower required contingency, administration recommended that the 2022 budget be amended such that the total tax levy increase is equal to zero per cent. Councillor Lana Broker inquired as to whether or not the utility costs in Camrose were in line with what surrounding municipalities are charging. “I believe Camrose is a fair amount cheaper, so by charging this extra three per cent, in a way it is bringing us closer to what other surrounding people get charged.” Bouck indicated that there was a comparison done, but at the time of the meeting, did not have the exact data available. Mayor PJ Stasko suggested amending the 2022 budget with major anticipated variances (Option 2) requesting the thoughts of council. Council directed administration to bring the 2022 budget back to the December 6 regular council meeting.
