Riverdale budget comparable to last year
- Details
- Published on Saturday, April 23, 2016
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
Fourteen people attended an April 13 public meeting to hear Riverdale Municipality present its 2016 budget. Mayor Todd Gill opened the meeting, which was held in Behlen Lounge at Riverdale Community Centre and which lasted less than a hour. He said, “This forum is brought to you in a larger venue than our council chamber in the name of transparency and opportunity. 2015 has passed as the first year…. I believe our amalgamation was overall successful [but] it also brought forth many challenges. Above regular operations one might expect in two offices, our staff spent 2015 reviewing audits, disaster assistance claims, vendor, ratepayer, bank and taxation accounts, along with many hours of consultation with accountants and legal council; I would like to thank and commend our ladies in the office for their efforts and dedication over the past year.
“The 2016 financial plan contains the usual fixed costs, maintenance, some equipment replacements, a couple blocks of street resurfacing, consideration to capital projects and redirecting a creek along with major bridge works on Road 129 South. The mill rate is based on assessments by Manitoba on market values of 2014. With the overall assessment increase we have been able to lower the mill rate considerably. While most residential properties will find this favourable, some commercial and farm properties will see substantial increases due to the increases in market value.”
Darren Bray, introduced by Gill as council’s “minister of finance,” briefly reviewed the 15-page budget. A significant difference was noticed in the convention column when $12,223.15 was spent last year and $20,000 is budgeted for this year. Bray explained the increase is because the annual municipal conference is in Winnipeg this year and not in Brandon so there will be more travel costs and hotel rooms. Road maintenance has jumped by nearly $40,000, which is earmarked for creek redirection as Gill previously stated. Recycling expenses were $8,653.93 last year yet $15,000 was set as the expected cost this year; council pays per tonnage to haul recyclables to Brandon and are anticipating more fees associated with this program.
The capital budget shows 20 projects including $70,000 for office projects; $5,000 will be spent on computers and furniture while the remaining will be for exterior upgrades. Gill said, “The brown stucco of the town hall has lost its luster, the windows are pretty much done and we’re going to replace the last fire department doors. It’s time for an upgrade. With our new signage we thought a new front would make everyone proud. We are considering our options of tin or painting or…” Another capital expense is the new water treatment plant, which began construction last month. Council has been working closely with Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB) who advised the new plant could be $6 million. Of that estimate, Riverdale would be responsible for $3 million while MWSB pays the remaining $3 million. The accepted tender was only $4.9 million so council will continue to consult with MWSB as the project proceeds. They are hoping to include demolition of the old plant as part of the overall project so they can take advantage of the 50-cent dollar and not be responsible for paying full demolition costs at a later time. It will likely not be known until the plant is nearly complete whether or not demolition and seeding that space to grass which be accepted as part of the overall project. Nonetheless, council had to account for the full $3 million in the capital budget; $400,000 will be paid from reserves while the remaining $2.6 million will be borrowed.
Council also expects to borrow $100,000 for a 2017 Cat backhoe for the utility department and another $263,000 for Lake Road subdivision, which also falls in the utility budget as that expense is for water and sewer services for those land lots. The water loan will be paid out in 20 years, the subdivision in 10 years and the backhoe in three years.
Looking ahead in the five-year capital plan, council has earmarked $5 million for a new lagoon and$100,000 for Riverdale Splash Park. “If they are successful with their grants and fundraising, council is responsible for water and sewer so we want to be prepared,” said Bray. Whenever the lagoon proceeds, it will be another MWSB-approved project so an expected $2.5 million will be paid by them while Riverdale’s share will be paid through borrowing.
