Skip to content

Council approves draft budget for circulation

Circulation of the Town of Sylvan Lake’s 2015-2017 draft budget was approved by council Monday night.

Circulation of the Town of Sylvan Lake’s 2015-2017 draft budget was approved by council Monday night. A period allowing for public input will now precede the budget’s final approval on Dec. 8.

No changes were made to the budget proposed from recent deliberations. It includes a residential tax rate increase of 3 per cent for 2015, and a rate freeze on non-residential.

Much of the increase is a result of the NexSource Centre and projects associated with a recent infrastructure study.

A structural change will also be made to the Town’s Recreation, Parks and Culture department, which is proposed to become separate Parks and Recreation and Culture departments.

That change, according to Town staff, will help deal with increased operational demands resulting from the NexSource Centre, and allow a higher commitment to maintaining parks and enhancing culture-based programming.

The draft budget is available for viewing online on the Town’s website, and in person at the library and the Municipal Government Building.

It will also be presented during an open house at the Municipal Government Building on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In another matter, council on Monday also awarded a contract for the demolition of the old arena and curling rink.

It was awarded to Clearview Grinding Ltd. of Surrey, B.C. at an amount no higher than $312,000.

The demolition, which staff are hoping to see carried out by the end of the year, will clear the way for the construction of the NexSource Centre.