During its last two meetings, council managed to lower the net tax increase by $464,515 to $1,083,134, or a 10.61 per cent tax increase.
The prior-year over-levy of $147,000 would give added relief to taxpayers but would not reduce the net tax requisition.
The net impact on a taxpayer would be about a 9.2 per cent tax increase.
This comes after the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Jasper both spoke out against a proposed 16 per cent tax increase.
On Dec. 5, council made several amendments that decreased the tax increase by $347,235 to a total of $1.2 million, or a 11.76 percent increase.
These amendments included increasing paid parking revenue to $1.35 million, dropping the new recreation and programming co-ordinator position, reducing winter contracted services and other amendments.
On Tuesday, council made more amendments such as dropping the new grounds labourer position, which reduced the tax increase by $42,336.
The position was initially requested because the municipality was having trouble meeting its minimum service standards.
“Although I am sensitive to the argument that it is service standards, that one individual who came before us to speak exclusively as a resident suggested austerity and seemed to support a reduction in services over an increase in taxes,” said Mayor Richard Ireland.
“It's a heavy cost in the year where we are facing tremendous increases for other reasons, reasons which the community accepted, but particularly the capital expenditure for needed facilities, so I find it to be a particular challenge.”
Council later reduced the new energy and environment co-ordinator position from full-time to half-time for a two-year term, lowering the tax increase by $43,243.
The municipal energy manager project was originally shared with the town of Hinton but has been vacant since late spring, and the proposal was for a Jasper-focused position going forward.
“I feel strongly that we need to be putting some of our energy into an energy environment position,” said Coun. Wendy Hall.
“Considering all the green initiatives that the federal government has, I just don't want this one to be completely off the table, and I’m confident that if it was a part-time position, there could be potential grants found.”
In addition, council reduced the funding to $10,000 for the outreach program support worker position. This lowered the tax increase by $21,001.
If fully funded, this position would have allowed the municipality to continue providing the existing programs that it already offers but that have attracted more youth lately.
Coun. Kathleen Waxer opposed the reduction, emphasizing how important this programming was for youths.
Council also reduced funding for the Jasper Artists Guild to $8,400, which lowered the tax increase by $10,700.
Hall noted that the Jasper Artists Guild’s request had been more than double its request from last year.
Council briefly discussed deferring the addition of a new fleet vehicle to 2025 but decided against it.
This new fleet vehicle is a $85,000 capital item that will serve as a third bylaw vehicle and be equipped with a kennel unit.
“The crux of the issue is that the team needs a third vehicle to get around town and mainly because they’re located across the tracks,” said Christine Nadon, director of Legislative and Protective Services.
“With the number of officers we have and the patrols we have, they can’t get around with two vehicles.”
A motion was defeated that would have cut the $12,500 for the Crisis Team, the initial rationale being there was still $25,000 unspent from previous years.
However, the Jasper Community Team Society and the Crisis Team Jasper Society still needed to sort out how the $25,000 would be allocated.
There was also discussion about funding to the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Habitat for the Arts, but no cuts were made to these items.
Going forward, external groups requesting municipal funding will be required to submit financial statements, budgets and certificates of incorporation.
This will ensure consistency when it comes to these funding requests.
Council discussed requiring this for 2024, but with some councillors worried that it was too late to ask this of groups, the motion was defeated and a new motion deferring this requirement to 2025 was carried.
Council also had discussions regarding utility rates, the new e-bike fleet and other subjects, but these discussions did not result in any motions.
Council is expected to approve the budget during its next meeting on Dec. 19 after administration incorporates the amendments and calculates the new tax increase.
