Last night, Cochrane town council approved a $60.4 million budget for 2021 that is anticipated to produce a zero per cent increase in municipal taxes, based upon two per cent growth. But utility fees are increasing.

In combination, that means an average Cochrane single-family dwelling assessed at $470,100 will pay a total of $3,514.48 annually, up from $3,474.54, a $39.94 increase.

Without town utilities and service fees, the municipal taxes will be $2,274.

In addition, there are requisitions for education and for the Rocky View Foundation (seniors housing).

The capital budget is heavy in transportation and saw staffing cuts that largely hit recreation, culture, and parks.

Councillors generally agreed on the need for the transportation projects, but there was concern expressed over the budget's impact upon community services 

While eventually accepting the budget, Councillor Tara McFadden believed the budget failed to focus on what she termed as the total community and said it was a step backward.

"I really feel as a municipality over the last year, and not deliberately, but perhaps by accident, we're not focusing on the community services part of being a municipality anymore. And I don't actually know of another town that doesn't have community services existing as a stand-alone general manager or director. We've lost that, and you see that with what we haven't been able to do this last year."

She says concern has been expressed to her by recreation and parks groups as well as the arts, culture, and historical communities.

"They just want to see themselves in the landscape, and we need an answer for that. So I'm championing a voice that we haven't heard much of this year." 

She says this doesn't mean she's in favour of a tax increase.

"I want to get to zero, but I want to make sure we're a complete community."

Councillors Susan Flowers shared Councillor McFadden's belief that the town is falling out of balance.

"We have gotten way out of balance getting rid of 16.8 staff this year. Many of them are community service workers, many are women that are out of work now. We need those community services. We have to have social recovery along with economic recovery. We can't just have one and not the other. It doesn't make for a healthy community."

Councillor Marni Fedeyko said she has also seen a growing imbalance and expressed particular concern with the growing costs of operating Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. She sought assurances that there would be a follow-through on examining whether it would be better operated by the town as opposed to a separate society. The budget has set aside $100,000 to examine the question.  

In contrast, Mayor Jeff Genung and councillors Morgan Nagel, Alex Reed, and Patrick Wilson fully supported the budget.

Councillor Wilson believes the town is on the right track, although he is opposed to the idea of new hirings for 2022-23.

He is particularly proud of the town's transportation projects.

"I love exactly where we've landed with our traffic improvements. I think we've accomplished things that Cochrane has been waiting for my entire life living here. I'm thrilled with the way we're heading. I think our organization is strong, and I'm very happy with the reorg we've done and where we currently sit. I think the financial prudence that we're rolling with right now is in line with economic realities."

Morgan Nagel believes the town is in a good position and made some wise moves with the budget while expanding upon transportation infrastructure.

"We really focused on the absolute necessities and core services, and we're delivering a zero per cent tax increase this year and marginal increases in the future planned."

McFadden failed in an attempt to have $100,000 shifted from the budget of the Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Parks Society to be set aside for future use for a community services hiring.

But it did plant a seed for further discussion during town council's spring strategic planning session and for when the town's new chief administrative officer arrives in the new year.

"If we can set having that discussion about how we balance our approach and make that sure we get on track in building a complete community, that's a success to me  And if it becomes a priority for us through the spring and bringing on a new CAO, that's a success for me."

The town has reduced its workforce by 16.8 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions.

Parks, culture, and Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) were hard hit, not only by the town budget but by the provincial budget.

FCSS and social services lost 6.3 FTE provincial funded positions.

To meet council's resolution for staffing costs adjustments, five positions in recreation and one in culture were eliminated.

The parks department has lost seven of their 27 seasonal workers.

The others were vacant or proposed new positions and the reorganization of senior administration last January.

Corporate services general manager Katherine Van Keimpema pointed out the reduction in staffing will mean a reduction or elimination of some town services.

During earlier budget deliberations, council had directed administration to make amendments to produce a zero per cent increase in taxes. Some of them failed to save enough to meet that target and further adjustments were made. It includes administration reducing conference expenses by $44,460 and funding a land strategy project out of reserves

The town did pursue a letter of understanding to have both the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4819 and Teamster Local 987 reduce their respective two per cent bargained increases for 2021. Both unions declined the request.

The three-year budget calls for a 1.9 per cent increase in 2022, based upon 2.5 per cent growth, and 2.52 per cent increase in 2023, based upon 3.5 per cent growth.

Administration also increased anticipated growth by a half per cent for both 2022 and 2023 because of the news of a COVID-19 vaccine and the focus of both the federal and provincial government to stimulate the economy.