Council budget deliberations begin

Strathcona County Council today received recommended municipal operating and capital budgets for 2020 and beyond.

This budget represents the second year of a multi-year planning and execution approach introduced last year. As such, presentations will focus on changes proposed to the 2020-2022 budgets previously approved by Council and outline any spending for 2023.

Budget 2020 incorporates reductions in revenue arising from the province’s 2019 budget announcements, including reductions to MSI capital funding and increased provincial share of revenues from RCMP and Enforcement Services’ penalties and fines. At this time, there are no changes to current service levels, based on efficiencies and cost savings identified by departments.

“As part of our organizational excellence goal, Strathcona County continues to improve the information available to support decision-making; to deliver better data, stronger analysis and performance management,” says Interim Chief Commissioner, Kevin Glebe. “Improving the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of our programs and services ensures our municipality is sustainable over the long term in meeting the needs of our community.”

As the province is expected to release its 2020 budget this spring, projections for 2021 and beyond are intentionally conservative until the county has a more complete understanding of immediate and future revenue impacts.

Highlights of Strathcona County’s Budget 2020 recommendations are noted below:

• Recommended 2020 tax increase of ­­­1.42 per cent
• Approval of one-time and/or critical initiatives only

Members of the public are invited to attend business plan and budget meetings, where Council will provide direction on recommended budget. Meetings are scheduled as follows:

November 18 starting at 1 p.m.; November 25, 28, 29, and December 3 and 5 starting at 9 a.m. Council is expected to approve Budget 2020 by December 5.

All business plan and budget meetings will be held in Council Chambers in the Community Centre at 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park. Meetings will be webcast live, or citizens can watch the recorded webcasts at their convenience.

The recommended 2020-2023 Budget will be available online as of November 18.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595