Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The Municipality of Jasper may need $11.5 million in taxes to support its operating expenses in 2024, which would be $1.3 million higher than in 2023.
Under the initial proposal, 57 per cent of residential properties would see an increase of $23 a month or less in 2024, according to a municipal press release.
Council began its review of the municipal budget during committee of the whole last week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The draft budget contains $22.3 million dollars in municipal operating expenditures.
This is supported by the $11.5 million tax requirement and a $41.2 million dollar capital budget, 54 per cent of which is supported by external funds and grants.
The budget also forecasts $1 million in paid parking revenue next year.
Factors influencing the budget include over $1 million dollars in non-discretionary items.This includes increased debt repayment costs to support recent improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and the ongoing recreation facility renovation, up $593,000 over 2023.
As well, administration cited regular salary progressions and full year cost of positions approved in 2023, up $412,000 over 2023, and increased energy costs up $154,000 over 2023.
During the budget deliberations, council hear presentations from administration on all service areas, as well as forecasts of debt and reserve account balances.
Council also considered funding requests from external organizations and directed administration to incorporate the following into the draft budget:
- Community Futures West Yellowhead $10,000
- Jasper Municipal Library $207,957
- Robson House Historical Society $5,000
- Habitat for the Arts $41,000
- Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge $5,000
- Jasper Artists Guild $19,200
- Jasper Historical Society $55,000
- Jasper Heritage Folk & Blues Society $2,000 cash funding and up to $3,000 in-kind
- UpLift! Mural Festival $25,000
- Crisis Team Jasper Society $12,500
Council also directed administration to bring forward amendments to the budget to include five new positions.
These positions are grounds labourer, energy and environment co-ordinator, outreach worker crisis response (half-year term), outreach program support worker (term) and recreation and culture programmer (two-year term).
Council also directed administration to adjust the transit schedule to reduce under-utilized evening and weekend hours to support increased morning service requests from residents.
After administration incorporates these changes and recalculates the budget, council will consider the updated budget at its Dec. 5 regular meeting.
Residents wishing to provide input on the 2024 budget can do so by:
- Filling out a feedback form on the municipal website
- Emailing [email protected]
- Deliver a letter to the Municipal Administration Office, 303 Pyramid Lake Road
- Mail a letter to: P.O. Box 520, Jasper, Alberta, T0E 1E0
- Join council in-person at the Quorum Room in the basement of the Library and Cultural Centre for the Dec. 5 regular meeting
Full recordings of the budget deliberations can be found on the municipality鈥檚 YouTube channel, and the 2024 proposed budget document can be found on its website.
