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Proposed budgets reviewed by Picture Butte town council

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Sunny South News

By Jaxon McGinn
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sunny South News

During their regular Dec. 13 council meeting, Picture Butte town councillors reviewed the proposed four-year capital budget and went through the interim operating budget.

The budget changes include some operational department changes, which council will be presented on Dec. 20.

“What I would recommend is that council voice their concerns with the project and direct us to come with a solution because there could be any number of things, and to have two separate locations probably not high on the list, but we need that direction on what is it that the project that council’s not happy with and what do we to look at? Is it the total budget? Is it the funding module for the budget?” asked Frank West, fire chief of Picture Butte.

“I’ll tell you, number one, Frank, I’m not comfortable with (a 30 year loan term). I do not want to do that and that’s not even a complete fire hall, that’s only phase one. That’s a huge issue with me,” said Mayor Cathy Moore.

Frank asked council, “that’s the issue, would the council be more comfortable with the same budget but a 15-year budget?”

Moore added she would be alright with a 30-year project to cut it down to a 15-year project.

Picture Butte CAO Keith Davis added the council will have a better idea of where the town is and what financial comments are by the end of 2022.

“It doesn’t help the fire hall project because if that is the case, and council wanted to delay that information if the cost of the project is an issue, then we don’t know what’s going to happen, and we can’t guarantee it’ll be the same price.”

West added the project for a new firehall in the capital budget, with the funding through levels of government, and even with the levels of government, doesn’t change.

“If I work towards maintaining the budget and the design and come back with a funding model that has a reduced debenture if that’s the direction, then that’s what I’ll do,” added West.

The capital budget was not approved and will be moved to the Dec. 20 meeting and will look over the possibility of making changes to the new firehall proposal to cut down the cost.

For further information about the capital budget, you can visit the Picture Butte website at picturebutte.ca

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