Jason Stockfish | [email protected]
On Dec. 6, after three committee of the whole meetings deliberating, council voted to approve the Municipality of Jasper鈥檚 2023-2025 Operating and 2023-2027 Capital Budget.
In the 鈥淩equest for Decision鈥� on the matter before council, Natasha Malenchak, director of finance and administration, explained that priority-based budgeting was used as a framework when administration was devising the proposed budget, and the municipality鈥檚 strategic priorities 鈥撀� along with input gathered from a resident survey and presentations by external groups 鈥撀� served as guiding lights along the way.
Previously, at the Nov. 29 committee of the whole meeting, council made motions to amend the budget as initially presented (see 鈥淐ouncil convened for third day of budget talks鈥� in the Dec. 1 issue of the 51暗网 for details of these amendments).
At that same earlier meeting, a motion was also passed recommending that council approve the budget as amended at their Dec. 6 meeting, which they proceeded to do this week.
Here are a few selected highlights.
After the committee of the whole鈥檚 recommendations to council were adopted, the operational budget increased by $1,084,425 over 2022, which represents a 4.45 per cent increase year-over-year.
Using a $900,000 house as a benchmark, this increase in municipal taxes equates to about $105 per property each year. However, administration notes that 鈥渢his is based on estimated 2022 assessment values and can change by the time the levies are set.鈥�
The 2023-2027 capital budget now includes $16,845,743 for new projects, including investments in developing municipal housing, refurbishing Lion鈥檚 Park and Robson Park, general maintenance of municipal grounds, buildings, roads and alleys, and significant investment in utilities such as water, sewers, garbage and recycling.
In 2023, the municipality is committing $4,178,500 in new investment for maintaining and improving Jasper鈥檚 water and wastewater assets.
Around $2 million has been dedicated to building a splash park in 2025.
In 2026, another $2 million will be spent on deep services planning on Blocks 15, 16, 17 and 18 of Colin Crescent.聽
Revenue collected from the paid parking program will be put toward lowering the municipal tax impact ($325,000) and public transportation ($170,000).
By bringing priority services in-house, the municipality will be able to decrease contracted services in operations by $128,000 and by $10,000 in recreation facilities.
Nearly $180,000 will be invested in the municipality鈥檚 housing strategy.
In its pursuit of acquiring authority over land-use planning from Parks Canada, the municipality will spend $75,000.
There will also be increased support of more than $152,000 for organizations in the community:聽
- 聽Municipal Library ($8,100 increase over 2022)
- 聽Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society ($55,000)
- 聽Evergreens Foundation ($10,000 per year for three years towards the seniors鈥� bus)
- Habitat for the Arts ($30,000 plus another $20,000 if reporting requirements are met)聽
- Jasper Crisis Team ($12,500 for crisis response)
- Jasper Artists Guild ($6,650)
- Community Futures West Yellowhead ($10,000)
To view the proposed budget visit
