Clive village council began talks on their 2025 interim budget which proposes no property tax hike but includes a 14 per cent increase to water bills. The discussion was held at the Nov. 25 regular meeting of council.
Village Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Carla Kenney presented councillors with a draft 2025 interim budget; municipal interim budgets are required by the Government of Alberta to be in place by Dec. 31 and can be seen as a way to ensure business is transacted before the full budget is passed in the spring.
Kenney noted in her presentation that the interim budget proposed a zero per cent increase to local property taxes while projecting property values in Clive would rise enough to equal a two per cent increase in assessment values; she predicted this would be enough to ensure council wouldn’t have to increase property taxes.
Kenney stated water bills are proposed to be increased by 14 per cent as the village tries to get utilities to fully fund themselves, a strategy common among municipalities; as councillors discussed the hike they voiced concern about the size.
Kenney responded 14 per cent may sound high but a Clive water bill averages about $80, so the increase would be about $11 per month. The CAO also pointed out utility bills also cover things like maintenance and repair of equipment.
Clive now gets its water from the Hwy. #12/21 Water Commission, which charges municipalities for every cubic metre used; that charge is passed along to users.
Further, the CAO warned that police costs look to increase again in the future; however, the provincial government has promised no such increases will affect municipalities in 2025.
Councillors passed a resolution to direct administration to incorporate council’s comments into the 2025 budget to consider approving at the Dec. 16 council meeting.
FCSS usage
Councillors discussed Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) programs and usage after that department’s October report was submitted to them. The discussion revolved around where the funding for FCSS programs comes from and who is using the programs.
The CAO noted that the idea of tracking usage has been proposed, allowing the village and FCSS staff to know who is using the programs.
Kenney noted that a request was sent to Lacombe County for more FCSS funding; she observed the county council made a one-time grant of $2,000.
The October FCSS report noted that Clive’s FCSS office experienced 92 walk-in clients that month alone in addition to all of their other programs and services.
Infrastructure
The CAO reported that staff installed a back-up pump at the sewer lift station while the second pump is away for inspection.
Bylaw complaint
During her regular report Kenney noted the village office received one mistreated dog complaint which staff forwarded to the animal control contractor.
Trash update
Kenney observed that the village had received no complaints or concerns about garbage pick-up after residents had been advised to begin placing their garbage cans out earlier than normal.
Police news
Councillors perused the regular crime stats report submitted by the Blackfalds RCMP detachment, which provides Clive with its police service.
The report noted that on Nov. 14 a 911 call was received that a truck with a firearm in it had been stolen from a Lacombe County property. Police reported the truck was later recovered in Sylvan Lake and the owner informed.
RCMP reported that on Nov. 15, as a result of snowy weather, police responded to 11 motor vehicle collision calls within a two-hour period.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
