Budget meetings scheduled for fall 2023

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Sunny South News

By Erika Mathieu
Sunny South News

Coaldale council has begun deliberations for next year, with the dates for the remaining meetings for 2023 tentatively scheduled for this fall/winter.

Kicking off the process, the Town held a special council meeting on Sept. 20 to discuss budget meetings over the next few months.

In addition to the regularly scheduled regular council meetings, special council meetings have been scheduled for  Nov. 1, Nov. 15 and Nov. 30.

The purpose of the Sept. 20 meeting was to review current municipal service levels and refresh council with foundational knowledge pertaining to the budget process which they will use to guide their decisions during the deliberations. As well, the early overview provided Council with an opportunity to discuss desired levels of service in Coaldale across each of the six budget departments.

The first of the budget presentations was presented by Town of Coaldale’s Chief Financial Officer, (CFO) Kyle Beauchamp, who also presented a quarterly financial report last month.

These findings for the Town’s second quarter (Q2) included data from up until the end of June 2023.

Topics of discussion for this update included the impact of reduced MSI funding, and a projected operational surplus. Additionally Beauchamp referenced a potential change of scope in Phase 2B of the Malloy Drainage capital project, and discussed funding options since the province denied the Town’s request for funding support.

The Nov. 1 budget meeting will provide follow up information requested by Council during the Sept. 20 meeting. Council will also have the opportunity to engage in initial discussions as well as introduce new items, requests or reductions. This input will help administration prepare for upcoming deliberations.