The town will be flush in excess taxpayer dollars at the end of 2019, largely due to a projected surplus in its RCMP budget.

On Nov. 25, town council agreed to put the excess funds into its infrastructure gap reserve, instead of the facility lifecycle reserve. The lifecycle reserve already exceeds its target balance of $4,771,535.

The largest factor is a projected $675,000 surplus due to lower than anticipated budget costs for the RCMP contract.

Explains Stacey Loe, senior manager of Legislative and Protective Services, the town is only invoiced by the RCMP for actual members physically here working.

Also, if there is an RCMP member on extended leave that has not been backfilled, the town does not get billed for that member until they return to duty or the position is backfilled.

Loe says the town is currently at its full complement of 24 RCMP members. The number did fluctuate throughout the year.

On the other side of the coin, legal costs are expected to be $96,500 higher due to unionization of some town employees and a higher number of legal matters concerning capital projects, annexation, and land purchases and sales.

Other factors impacting town expenditures and income include:

  • Contracting costs are expected to be $298,500 lower than budgeted due to a slowdown in growth;
  • Safety code revenue is $64,000 higher;
  • Development and subdivision permit revenues are anticipated to be $175,000 lower;
  • Cemetery revenues are expected to be $58,000 lower;
  • Audit fees anticipated to be $53,000 higher than budgeted due to staff vacancies; and
  • More road revenue is anticipated with the fourth quarter collection of ATCO and Fortis franchise fees.

Financial services manager Tanya Galon outlined the progress of 72 capital projects. Twenty-seven capital projects, totalling $57.1 million, will be completed this year, with $90.1 million in capital projects continuing into 2020.