Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie says no decision has been made on Cochrane's designation for funding from Alberta Children's Services.

Guthrie clarified the assessment has begun on applications but as of yet, it's premature to speculate.

Which population category the town falls within will make a huge difference in funding. If it's classified as a smaller community with less than 11,000 under 18 youth, the cap is $500,000. Over 11,000, it's $750,000.

The level of service offered by Western Rocky View Family & Community Resource Centre and the Parent Link Centre could potentially be impacted.

He says the letter received by the town simply reconfirmed the data on file.

"They just misinterpreted," explains Guthrie. "They thought the letter was saying we're not going to move you up. Basically, they were just reiterating facts that the town already knew and telling them to hold tight for the application process."

The information on file is from a 2016 federal census that calculated Cochrane had 10,625 people under 18 years of age.

Residing in Cochrane for over 10 years, Guthrie says he fully understands the booming growth of the community.

"Children Services knows me very well because I have been in close contact with them on it, advocating for our town. I've been discussing how our town has such a massive growth rate, as well as Airdrie, and all of Airdrie-Cochrane."

"2016 statistics in this town is a full four years behind, and we've had a lot of growth."

With funding criteria changing over the years, the government is resetting how support is provided for children's services, he explains. It's not because funds have been used inappropriately, rather some funding being provided does not necessarily fit the current criteria.