2015 Budget

By Susan Hofforth
The 2015 Budget was approved by the Town of Whitecourt on April 13. The budget of $56.8 million is able to maintain current standards and still make room for many new projects according to the town’s website. The tax rate bylaw, with a tax increase of 3.78 per cent, is not yet approved but will be presented at the April 27 meeting. The annual report will be published then. In the meantime, here are some of the highlights.
The capital budget of approximately $18 million has allotted 43 per cent for planning and development, with common services taking a quarter of the budget, and the next largest for Parks and Recreation at 12 per cent. The town’s operating budget of $38 million also spends a great deal on parks and recreation, 20 per cent. Police and fire protection gets 15 per cent and 12 per cent goes to roads and sewers.
The same numbers are reflected in the portion of the budget that comes from tax dollars. Twenty-six per cent will be allotted to Parks and Recreation, 16 per cent on roads, and 15 per cent on police and fire protection.
For more details, visit the town’s website.