County passes small tax increase budget

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County passes small tax increase budget

By Murray Green

Camrose County council, during their regular meeting on April 12, considered and approved the final 2022 Operating Budget with total operating revenues of $20,618,698 and total operating expenses of $35,101,028, with a total operational tax levy to be applied against all properties of $14,482,330.

At the fall budget meetings, department managers recommended to the budget committee several changes or alternatives to services delivery and identified areas where efficiencies could be implemented. The Interim Operating Budget was passed on December 12, 2021, with an operating deficit of $13,936,914. Since that date, administration has reviewed and updated all departmental operating budgets and final requisition numbers from the province, incorporated changes to assessment, changes in staffing and inflationary pressures on items such as insurance, fuel, and utility costs. Operating revenues and expenses have been adjusted by $1,747,237 since the interim budget.

At that same meeting, Camrose County council also approved the final 2022 Capital Budget and project expenses in the amount of $16,118,471 to be funded by internal resources (County resources such as grants, debentures, or reserves), in the amount of $14,944,528 and a total capital tax levy of $1,173,943.

The Police Funding Model requisition from the province has been increased by 29.7 per cent, going from $316,206 in 2021 to $430,592 in 2022.

The province announced a general province-wide increase in School Foundation Tax rate of 1.5 per cent, however, in Camrose County, the Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF) tax rate is increasing 1.7 per cent for residential and four per cent for non-residential properties. This is due to changes in assessment values in Camrose County. This represents a $316,902 increase year over year in the ASFF requisition.

For a residential property valued at $350,000, property taxes will increase by 1.83 per cent (or approximately $40 to a total of $2,173.91). Of the total taxes paid, approximately $916 (or 37 per cent) is ASFF requisition that the County must collect on behalf of the province, and 3.31 per cent (or about $72) is police requisition, which is transferred to the province. Farmland taxes will increase 1.23 per cent in dollars; a quarter assessed at $30,000 will see a tax increase of $6.21.

“The goal for the 2022 budget was to maintain a high level of municipal service to our ratepayers, given the current social and economic climate, based on council’s strategic direction, and recently introduced priority-based budgeting principles,” said CAO Paul King.

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Seeding steps to reduce canola flea beetles

By Keith Gabert, Canola Council of Canada

Canola growers can take steps before or at seeding to improve crop competition against flea beetles.

Standing stubble protects soil from erosion and collects more snow. Stubble also improves flea beetle management by providing shelter from wind. With direct seeding, the remaining stubble can keep flea beetles feeding on leaves–and not down on the stems. A few bites on a leaf are far less damaging than a few bites on the stem.

If growers have some wiggle room on last minute seed treatment decisions, they may upgrade their seed treatment. Enhanced insecticide seed treatments will improve flea beetle protection, especially when used in combination with the following management practices. Arrange a check strip comparison if you have two seed treatments on the same variety.

Aim for five to eight plants per square foot. This target is good for yield, and more plants mean fewer flea beetles per plant and more seed treatment per acre.

Take steps for fast emergence and more vigour. Rapid emergence and vigorous early-season growth can extend seed treatment protection until the four-leaf stage, which is generally considered to be the end of the flea beetle risk period. To achieve these objectives, seed shallow, at a reduced speed, into a warm, moist seedbed. Use only safe rates of seed-placed fertilizer. Our best recommendation is to use only phosphorus in the seed row and no more than 20 lb./acre of actual phosphate. Higher rates of seed-placed fertilizer can add more stress, slow the pace of growth and reduce the plant stand.

Even with all of these steps, flea beetle damage can still reach the economic threshold of 25 per cent leaf area loss across the field. If feeding is a concern, scout frequently, especially in warm, dry conditions that are ideal for flea beetles.

Flea beetles become active with the first extended period of warm weather in April and May. Striped flea beetles emerge from winter rest one to four weeks before the crucifer flea beetles, and it may

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take three weeks for all overwintering adults to emerge.

Canola Watch has good tips on the spray decision and tips to improve results. Go to canolawatch.org/ fundamentals, click on the Insects section and read The flea beetle spray decision: eight steps and How to assess leaf area loss from flea beetles.

Even after taking the steps described in this article, flea beetle damage can still reach the economic threshold of 25 per cent leaf area loss across the field. Immediately after crop emergence, be on the lookout for striped flea beetles (with orange stripes) and crucifer flea beetles (all black).