Council preparing for budget talks

Details

Published on Tuesday, October 25, 2016

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The Town of Neepawa will be taking a slightly different approach to its upcoming budget. During his mayoral report at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, Adrian de Groot outlined that for the 2017 budget, deliberations with local ratepayers will begin earlier.  He noted that some people felt that during last year’s discussions, public engagement on the budget was too late in the process.

“It was a bit of a dilemma as to ‘Are we getting the best bang for the energy that’s put into the public meetings?’. Although the [public meetings] were good and we’re still going to have them, because they are a part of that process, we feel this will be a more interactive,” said de Groot. “Once you see the survey, you’ll get a good idea as to where we’re going with this, because it’s going to give people the information as to what this block of services cost. And then they’ll be able to say ‘Okay, should we increase it? Should we maintain it? Should we enhance it? Should we decrease it?’ So it’ll tell us how people see that service and how it relates to our total budget.”

De Groot said for the 2017 budget, a comprehensive survey, outlining some of the spending priorities, will be assembled and distributed. The survey will be available both in a hard copy form (distributed to senior complexes within the town limits) and electronically (available through the town’s website). He stressed that the numbers presented in the survey will be a preliminary snapshot of the 2017 operating and maintenance budget.

“I’ve asked our administration to take a look at certain services and what portion of our budget does that take. So people will be able to look at the numbers and say ‘Okey doodle! You know, that’s 40 per cent of our budget. That’s pretty significant, but am I seeing that level of service? Or are there things that we might have to shift.’ If people say, ‘We need to reduce this.’ It gives [Town Council and administration] a better indicator of the will of the ratepayers.”

De Groot concluded that this version of the budgeting process will be really meaningful, because it’ll give council a clearer message of whether or not they’re on the right track, when it comes to spending. A time-line for the budget survey indicates that it’ll likely move forward within the next few weeks, with the results being received and tabulated before the end of the year.

School zone speed limits

The Beautiful Plains School Division (BPSD) has asked town council to review the speed limits around Neepawa’s schools. In a written letter, BPSD board chair John McNeily noted that due to increased traffic and student population within the community, the division feels that a reduced speed limit of 30 km/h around Neepawa Collegiate and Hazel M. Kellington Elementary School, would increase the safety of the students. Council has taken the request under advisement and will review whether the change should be made in the near future. Other communities across the province, including Brandon and Portage la Prairie, have already adopted the 30 km/h limits within school zones. The Brandon requirements, however, are seasonal, while the Portage bylaw is year-round.

ArtsForward request

ArtsForward has presented a recreational funding request to the Town of Neepawa. Program director Rrain Prior and board chair Amanda Naughton-Gale spoke to council and asked them to add ArtsForward to the municipal recreation budget. They requested that five dollars per capita be set aside within the existing budget, which would assist the organization, while also not requiring any additional costs to the ratepayer. They also suggested the appointment of a municipal representative to the ArtsForward board.

In a prepared statement, Naughton-Gale suggested that the programs and services currently offered by ArtsForward aid the community in multiple ways. She noted one of those positives is ensuring Neepawa’s Leisure Services department does not have to take up that mandate and provide these options, which would ultimately cost the department and the town more time and money. Town Council received the request and will take it under advisement.

Request for levy increase

Neepawa and District Veterinary Services Board has asked for an increase in support. After a recent mandatory inspection of the clinic, it was brought to the board’s attention that the facility was not up to Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) standards and was in dire need of repairs.

In its letter to Town Council, the Vet Board noted that due to increased costs and a rise in inflation, it has been operating with an outdated budget and cannot currently afford to make the repairs and keep the equipment up to the MVMA standards and allow the business to run.

The board is asking each rural municipality to increase the amount of their annual levy. For Neepawa, they’d like to see it changed from one installment of $7,860 to a single installment of $11,790 or two instalments of $5,895. Secretary/Treasurer Sherry Obsniuk said this increase would assist with making the necessary improvements to keep the clinic compliant with MVMA requirements and make the needed repairs. Town Council is reviewing the request.