Town of Banff

Budget 2012

December 14, 2011 - Today council approved the 2012 operating and capital budgets, indicating an overall tax increase of 4.98%. The tax rate will be set in April.

The proposed increase includes both general property taxes and the utility charge for waste services. The average homeowner would likely see a $13.19 monthly increase.

• 2012 - 2014 Operating Budget( PDF - 16 kb)
• 2012 - 2021 Capital Budget ( PDF - 169 kb)

Operating Budget

The following new items were approved:

• $824 for an annual membership in the Calgary Airshed Zone
• $25,000 for an external compensation review
• $29,520 to expand the visitor experience and destination events role
• $6,000 for a website development needs analysis
• $20,000 for on-line payment software
• $5,000 annual funding for the Bow Valley SPCA
• $45,000 for a 12-month term engineering student
• $90,000 for a Transportation Master Plan
• $11,000 for 2012 parking and traffic management interim solutions
• $51,400 for a downtown outdoor rink
• $20,000 for the next five years for a storm sewer condition assessment
• $10,000 additional funding for the Banff Volunteer Centre
• $2,995 grant for the Banff Rundle Playschool
• $6,000 for the Get Out Youth sports program
• $24,500 additional funding for the Banff Public Library
  

Council also voted to increase the overall tax rate by 2.02% to cover the deficit left by decreased provincial funding of RCMP Services.

Council directed administration to return with a proposal to cut 2 full time equivalent positions in 2012.

Capital Budget

Council voted to bring the St. Julien Road reconstruction project forward by 2 years. The project is now scheduled for 2015.  To accommodate this change, the Otter Street reconstruction project will be delayed by a year, to 2016. 

Council approved the following new projects for 2012:

• $20,000 - Birch Street berm - design (with $50,000 in 2013 for construction
• $80,000 - Bow River Bridge traffic flow review - design (with $300,000 in 2013 for construction)
  
• $300,000 - Legacy Trail, Norquay Road to Fenlands
  
• $40,000 - Library entryway landscaping - design (with $300,000 in 201 for construction)
  
• $30,000 - Off-leash dog park
• $36,220 - Special events equipment (with further purchases over next 3 years)
  
• $290,000 - Traffic signals timing integration

Other  projects were either approved for future years, or postponed until 2013 for further discussion:

• Columbarium and memorial barden (for cremains) - 2017
• Legacy Trail connection on Banff Avenue - 2013
• Sidewalk Inlays - to be further discussed in 2013
• Alternate energy for Town Hall - 2014