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The original item was published from 1/31/2019 1:37:53 PM to 2/17/2019 12:00:01 AM.
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Posted on: January 31, 2019[ARCHIVED] Council Approves 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets
After several weeks examining all Town operations, the number of employees in each unit and all service levels, Banff Town Council passed its 2019 budget, with $11.9 million in investments on capital and infrastructure projects. Council also set $44.8 million in spending to operate more than 100 programs across 73 service areas in the year ahead.
For a typical Banff dwelling valued at $399,200, the budget is estimated to result in a property tax increase of $102 for the year, or $8.55 a month for households on the monthly payment plan.
The final tax impact will be set in May after the Alberta government submits a requisition for the Provincial Education Tax.
Inflation accounts for 1.34% property tax increase, to provide the same 2018 services in 2019. New projects and service enhancements add 3.03%. The Provincial Education Tax, which the Town collects for the Government of Alberta, is estimated to increase property taxes by 0.54%. Factoring a seniors housing levy, the total property tax increase for 2019 is predicted to increase by 4.93%.
2019 projects include:
- additional trail lighting
- a new Fire Department pump truck, a trailer for equipment to protect houses from encroaching wildfire, and new “jaws of Life” for vehicle extractions
- landscaping and fencing was approved around a new parking lot being built at the Train Station this year, as well as a transit shuttle connecting the new lot with other Roam services
- 63 residential waste collection bins for food (over the next 2 years), and 20 residential 3-stream recycling bins for collection of mixed paper, plastics & metal and glass
- upgrades to the Banff Recreation Grounds; work to establish a new dog park; and a new public playground at the Banff Elementary School
- pre-design work to help plan a pedestrian crossing at the CP rails connecting Marmot Crescent and the industrial compound
- roadway overlay and sidewalk improvements in various locations through the town
- a study of wildlife corridors in the townsite and an education and awareness campaign to minimize attractants that can result in conflicts with bears, wolves, elk and other large animals
- equipment to live stream and video record council meetings to enhance transparency of Town Hall and to provide more ways for people to engage on issues that are important in our community