Town of Ponoka residents will see a 3.2 per cent tax increase this year after town council approved the full budget for 2015.
Council approved the changes Tuesday, April 14 during their regular meeting with a municipal tax increase of $449,107.
A homeowner will see an increase in their taxes of $63 per $300,000 of assessment on their homes, explained Betty Quinlan, director of corporate services.
Commercial taxes increase by 2.4 per cent showing the same increase of $63 per $300,000 of property assessment. Residential mill rates were increased to 9.33 per cent for 2015, up from 9.17 per cent in 2014.
Assessment increased by $45.1 million — $17.8 million in new assessment and $27.3 million to adjust for inflation.
Commercial mill rates were increased to 12.48 for 2015 compared to 12.21 in 2014.
Changes to the interim budget:
• Staffing changes transferring a new waterworks position to cover for a new manager of operations position and additional funding for a staff position in community services - $82,200;
• Additional funding for maintenance of fire equipment - $12,800.
• Revenues show the RCMP school resource officer is paid through Ponoka County - $100,000, relieving the town budget of the expense;
• Computer hardware upgrades for technology projects - $10,000;
• $70,000 was transferred from fleet replacement to accommodate future changes to town hall and the visitor information centre.
Changes to town hall are intended to make it more “people friendly” CAO Rachel Kunz told councillors.
Coun. Teri Underhill said she had a hard time agreeing to the $70,000 improvements at the administration building and visitors centre when council was eager to have a grant program available for residents and groups.
Quinlan said the money transferred was from provincial grants and could not necessarily be used for a grant program. “There isn’t actually any operating funding available,” she added.
Coun. Carla Prediger wants to see a more detailed budget, similar to the one used during budget deliberations, once the assessment numbers come in. “I would like to see that much detail.”
That much detail is something Mayor Rick Bonnett felt was an unrealistic expectation. “I don’t know what to say about that,” he remarked.
Coun. Loanna Gulka added she had no issue with the presentation considering the changes show a difference of just over $200,000.
Quinlan said with council passing the budget, the town clerk has two weeks to get 3,500 notices out to give residents 60 days notice.