Municipal District of Smoky River 2009 Budget passed

Emily Plihal
Special to the Express

Municipal District of Smoky River has approved their budget for the 2009 tax season.

CAO Lucien Turcotte explains their entire budget will consist of approximately $16,300,00 worth of projects and new equipments in the 2009 year.

“There is a new tangible asset program required by the province this year,” explains Turcotte. “New to 2009, we must have tangible assets saved.”

He explains this project is being done as a joint effort for all municipalities in the region.

Some public works jobs set to occur this year include Mencke’s culvert, McLennan – Peavine Connector, equipment purchase, and more roadside mowing.

Currently, the McLennan – Peavine connector is still in a brushing phase, Turcotte explains that approximately one-half of the work was done last winter. The project will continue this year.

Turcotte says $450,000 was set aside for the purchase of service and gravel trucks. This money will include any new equipment required in the MD.

In addition, the MD plans on doubling their roadside mowing program. Instead of having only one employee mowing the ditches, they will create a new position. There will now be two shifts for mowing each day, creating more hours in roadside mowing and better maintained ditches.

“We are budgeting for capital improvements at the ski hill,” says Turcotte. “We are waiting for an answer from the province and from partnering municipalities to begin a project we think will be a great addition to the hill.”

Money has been set aside in reserve for a new fire hall and for a water supply reserve.

Turcotte says the MD is continuing their plans to build the new fire hall, which will require time, effort and money.

Tax payers may notice a decrease on their annual property taxes.

“The province has brought down the education tax,” says Turcotte. “The big contributing factor in our tax decrease was the decrease in school foundation mill rate.”

Total mill rate on farm taxes decreased to a rate of 16.2662 from 16.7200.

Residential taxes decreased to 10.7031from 11.8569. This is largely because the school tax dropped from 3.2509 to 2.7172.

Non residential taxes decreased from 19.0935 in the 2008 tax season to 18.1991. The school levies decreased from 4.3875 to 3.5132.

Due to provincial cuts, certain grants have also been decreased, some of which was expected to be obtained this year.

As a result as a tighter provincial budget, the MSI grant has decreased substantially.

“Some funds were decreased in the province,” says Turcotte. “As a result municipalities across the province received a smaller allocation of funds from the government.”

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