The majority of town councillors are leaning towards upfronting tax increases proposed in the 2022-2024 budget draft to as much as 10 per cent in 2022 and lesser amounts in the subsequent two years.

Yesterday, council held its second budget meeting to review a draft budget that calls for a $32 million operating budget in 2022, up from $29.2 million this year, a 9.5 per cent increase. By 2024, it proposes to increase the operating budget to $38.4 million.

The seven-hour meeting saw the administration answer questions arising from the Nov. 15 presentation, followed by a brief discussion on the proposed capital budget and a glimpse at the 10-year infrastructure strategy.

The meeting saw extensive clarification provided on the vague overview provided the week previous on administration and workforce positions requested to maintain current services.

CAO Mike Derricott admitted administration didn't clearly present information on the new positions sought to implement its new organizational structure and says he appreciated the questions asked.

"Holding the feet to the fire is part of it. We want to be in an environment, I believe, where it's permissible to ask tough questions and give tough answers. So in this case, I'm grateful to council for the questions they've asked. It has certainly helped us refine our thought processes even more and hopefully articulate them more clearly."

Reaction to the initial presentation last week ranged from confusion to outrage from some residents over what many viewed as far too many managerial positions and too few boots on the ground.

According to yesterday's presentation, the budget calls for the creation of four new managerial positions and the equivalent of about seven non-management full-time positions in 2022. Some are returning positions previously cut, including seasonal parks workers.

It would be followed by creating five new managerial positions in the 2023 and 2024 budgets.

Corporate Services executive director Katherine Van Keimpema told council the 2022 draft budget calls for an additional $1.2 million for nonmanagement positions and $490,000 in management positions beyond what was included in the 2021 budget.

The administration says these positions are desperately required to address the infrastructure gap. It says failure to provide additional support threatens the town's ability to continue to maintain current services. 

During the capital budget presentation, eyebrows were raised about a future solar energy capital project that is forecasted in the coming years. Many councillors said it was the first they'd heard of it. 

Council generally supported providing $600,000 towards the sports field proposed at Cochrane High in the 2022 budget. It would be contingent upon Rocky View County contributing the same, approved by Rocky View Schools, and an agreement to ensure it is accessible for use by the community. It would also require the donor, who initially pledged $1.2 million towards the project, to return to the table.

Councillors leaned towards stepping away from the 7-7-7 per cent increase structure of the proposed three-year budget and instead frontload the tax increase. Some also dabbled with the question of how much should be contributed to reserve. 

Morgan Nagel questions the value of increasing reserves in a time when inflation has surpassed the return from town investment. He viewed 2022 as a catchup year to address staffing pressures and inflation.

"I'm very much looking for areas for this to be reduced, and I'd also like to see the taxes frontloaded," said Nagel.

He frowned upon creating an equity and inclusion specialist position, believing that work could be completed elsewhere within the town organization structure, such as by the intergovernmental relations and corporate communications manager position proposed in the budget.

Councillor Susan Flowers believed the town has fallen behind and is now paying the price.

"We have to bite the bullet this time, and we are going to have an increase. I don't know what the percent is going to be, but I'm really looking forward to building this organization to be respected across the province and not just barely getting through the day with all the staff."

She strongly supported the need for the equity and inclusion specialist position.

Marni Fedeyko pushed the hardest for clarification and transparency on the new positions being created. She requested a wage grid and was not convinced of the need for many of the managerial positions at this time.

"Comunity Services, yes, planning, yes, we know there are challenges we need to fill, but I am not looking at much more than that."

She said last week's initial budget presentation lacked many vital details, making it difficult to navigate.

"The challenge is that initially, it should have been brought forward that way, to begin with. Now all of a sudden you're showing us where this is, but it should have been right there at the start. I do struggle with it, and I'm trying to find a place that I can go out to the public to land and balance on, and it's not there yet."

Today's budget meeting has been cancelled and discussions will instead resume Thursday to allow administration to gather data and answer additional questions asked by council.