Battleford Town Council completed its first round of budget deliberations Monday.
On the docket were protective services, made up of police, fire department, and animal/pest control. The sewer and water budget was also discussed at the meeting.
Overall, the town was around $30,000 under budget for protective services, from a projected budget of $638,930. Police costs stayed on budget at $233,050 (from an estimated budget of $235,340), as RCMP costs are paid on a per capita basis.
Mayor Chris Odishaw noted that, as soon as the town reaches 5,000, the per capita cost of RCMP will increase, something future councils should be aware of. The estimated budget for next year increased to $252,426 based largely on the increases to the cost of RCMP.
The fire department was over budget by around $22,000, at $163,288.16 from a projected budget of $141,020. Most categories were either on budget or close, so the difference was made up in wages (which were $5,000 over budget at $78,150.48 compared to the budgeted amount of $73,500) and equipment repair ($18,000 over budget from a projected budget of $8,000).
In the case of wages, totals were higher because calls had been longer in duration than expected. Equipment repair costs were so dramatically over budget because of the failure of a pump on the primary engine, which is 21 years old. The replacement of the pump made up the majority of the increase over the projected budget. The fire department estimated the total estimated budget for next year at $151,340.
The fire department also gave their five-year capital projection, which came at a total of $3,600,000. The bulk of this cost is made up by the purchase of a new fire hall building, at a cost of $2.75m, in 2015. Other costs include the purchase and installation of a new ceiling, insulation and cladding at the current fire hall at a cost of $15,000 and a diesel exhaust filtration unit for $10,000, both of which are scheduled to be purchased in 2012.
Other significant purchases also include vehicles, which total nearly $1 million. The town will purchase a fire engine when the primary engine reaches 25 years of age in 2015 for a projected cost of $550,000, and a used ladder truck in 2016 at an estimated cost of $275,000.
The animal/pest control budget was also largely on track, but was $30,000 under budget (from a projected budget of $168,758) because of lower salary costs, building inspector costs, and equipment/maintenance costs. Salaries were dramatically under budget, at $51,189 compared to the estimated total cost of $77,800. The addition of a summer student position and a part-time secretary, to be shared between the fire department and animal/pest control, brings the total projected budget to $100,000 next year. Building inspector costs were $7,500 under budget at $47,426 and equipment and maintenance costs were $4,820 from a projected cost of $7,675. The town also did not need to purchase chemicals to control mosquitoes, as current stockpiles were enough, and so saved $1,000 on the budget.
In total, the budget for animal/pest control came to $138,218.74. It is projected to increase to $194,290 next year, largely because of the addition of the secretary position and increased equipment and maintenance costs.
The town's deliberations on the sewer and water budget began with a discussion of whether the town wanted to get rid of the system of even-odd day watering, with Councillor Bill Halewich in particular wanting to abolish the system. The even-odd watering scheme has not been enforced for years, but Town Administrator Sheryl Ballendine recommended council wait for a later date to get rid of the laws, which are spread across numerous bylaws.
The total deficit on the sewer and budget was half of its projected value, at $526,000. Total revenues were close to the budgeted amounts, though water sales decreased. From an estimated budget of around $1,562,700, the town made 1,475,201. Water sales, infrastructure fees, connection fees, and custom work were all below projected amounts, in large part because of decreased water usage.
Expenditures made up for the bulk of the deficit decrease, as administrative expenditures were dramatically under budget. Out of a projected budget of $611,000, the town spent only $491,000. The difference was made up in almost every category. Salaries were under budget by around $10,000 at $369,801, supplies were almost $10,000 under budget at only $109, and though the town had budgeted to pay an insurance premium this year at $8,000, they did not have to. Water maintenance costs were under budget by $17,500 from $48,000 and sewer maintenance costs were dramatically under budget at only $11,000 from a projected budget of $57,000.
The water plant, wells, sewer lifts, sewage lagoons and West Park costs were all well under budget. Total revenues are projected to remain around this year's level, while total expenses, which were just over $2 million this year, are expected to remain near their levels, increasing by around $114,000. This would bring the projected deficit to $631,408 from this year's total of around $526,000.
Though a projected utility budget was offered for next year at a total of $1,040,000, it was not yet final and will likely be higher. Most of this cost is for a new water treatment plant/well, at a cost of $830,000.
As town council expressed displeasure with the price, it may end up being less.
