Hinton council approved a budget calling for a roughly 4.32 per cent tax increase during a special council meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
The approval came at a special council meeting Wednesday (Dec. 11), following weeks of discussions at budget workshops and committee of the whole meetings.
"Administration brought us, first of all, I think, a very effective schedule for going over the budget, both capital and operating, [and] presented everything in great detail to understand the purpose of it,” said Coun. Trevor Haas. “Council has gone through many times, looking at it and [going] back and forth on a few things.”
While the tax increase is pegged at about 4.32 per cent, Haas noted the last-minute addition of a $34,000 capital request from the Hinton Chamber of Commerce may result in a slight increase.
“Looking around too at other municipalities that have passed their budgets … they seem to be that range of four to six,” he said. “I think that's a reasonable increase, especially due to the expenditures that we have and the inflation.”
The final mill rate, which is set in the New Year, will also depend on assessment growth, which could result in a slightly lower tax rate.
Council has approved reduced taxation in 2025 by utilizing reserves to offset increased policing costs and part of the monetary commitment to the Hinton Health Care Foundation. The net contribution from the operating budget to reserves in 2025 is projected to be $4.2 million.
While water and sewer revenue will still offset municipal taxes, administration stated this budget begins to reduce Town reliance on water revenues to maintain lower tax rates, with more utility revenue going to reserves.
The budget includes a temporary position that will be offset by a confirmed grant and another position whose wages are projected to be offset by new revenue generation. It also gives administration the means to source and implement a new accounting system.
In addition, there is an increased level of service to playground and sports field maintenance, vegetation management and recreation programming. The budget also continues remediation efforts for encampments and increased enforcement of non-compliant short-term rentals.
Coun. Stuart Taylor made a motion to reduce the playground and sports field maintenance budget by $80,000. He explained the budget item was funding three seasonal positions, a full-time one and a $60,000 mower.
“That's an awful lot of staff help, in my mind, and I'm uncomfortable going that high with just a general list of items that we're going to work on,” Taylor said. “If I had an itemized list and the items were costed out, then we’d have a better idea of what we're getting for the money.”
Haas opposed the motion, saying he had spoken to many community members who were excited to hear that council was focusing more on parks and recreation.
“This is one of the areas in which we get, I believe, a lot of complaints on the condition of our parks and rec in areas that are being neglected due to lack of time,” he said. “And I believe that administration brought forward enough to know that this money will go towards fixing up some of those areas and cleaning them up.”
The motion was defeated 4-1, with only Taylor voting in favour. Couns. Kristen Chambers and Ryan Maguhn were not in attendance.
Council also approved 4-1 on a $34,000 capital request from the Hinton Chamber of Commerce, with only Taylor opposed.
This would fund improvements at the Hinton Visitor Information Centre, a municipal-owned building, to better accommodate the destination marketing organization. Hass noted the group had not asked for operational funding this year, and the area has needed improvement for some time.
The capital plan, which was also approved, carries forward $3.5 million in projects from 2024 that were delayed either due to funding approvals or procurement challenges.
Projects approved for 2025 include a standalone external ammonia ice plant, a 60-niche columbarium for the Woodlawn Cemetery, heat-tube replacement in two arenas, rolling fleet replacement and significant investment in water and sewer infrastructure. Council’s approved purchase of a side-by-side to support fire services will only proceed if grants or other non-municipal funds can be obtained.
The $16,802,357 worth of projects are funded in part by $6,087,973 in provincial grants and the withdrawal of $7,707,857 from existing reserves. For funding water meter installation as part of the new utility rate system, council will consider debenture options in 2025.
