Village budget process begins
Fort Simpson developing 2016 operations, maintenance and capital budgets, extra funds for pool staff
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, November 12, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson's mayor and councillors met with village administration during a committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 9 to discuss the village's next budget.
Committee meetings differ from regular council meetings in that no final decisions are made.
As it stands, the village intends to bank $50,000 from its fire department budget for the next two years in preparation for purchasing a new ambulance.
A preliminary transportation and public works budget of $1.1 million includes extra money to clean up the public works site and remove asbestos piping in the public works yard.
"We need to work on housekeeping of all areas," said SAO Beth Jumbo during the meeting.
For recreation, which has a budget of little more than $1 million, councillors expressed a desire to see a program co-ordinator join the recreation team. There is also the possibility of the recreation department running a summer camp this year.
Contracted services worth $50,000 under recreation are expected to be used to replace doors.
The swimming pool's $214,000 budget includes extra money for staff, expected to include two full-time employees plus a lifeguard next year. The village will also consider fixing the pool's lockers.
The water treatment plant is expected to see $30,000 put toward upgrades to the building's pumps, as well an increase in money going to chemicals used to treat the water.
The village's capital budget has not yet been discussed.
Councillors agreed they wanted to seek public input on the budget prior to approval. On Nov. 10, Mayor Darlene Sibbeston took to social media to garner opinions from Fort Simpson residents.
"We invite you to make comments here, make them in person to the village office or send a message to the village office," she wrote.
Once opinions have been gathered, council will take them under advisement.
The village will also consider re-opening the issue of tax rebates. Recently, the previous council agreed to cut a $300 rebate for residents who pay their property taxes early.
The rebate was initially put in place at a time when the village was broke and needed money. Coun. Bob Hanna said it worked to get cash flow up but is no longer needed.
"It was not put in to help anyone, just to get our money up so we could pay our bills," he said.
Sibbeston said that while she was campaigning, she heard pushback from the community on that decision.
"I am committed to consultation," she said.
Further meetings have yet to be scheduled. The next regular meeting of council is Nov. 16.
