Council, with the exception of Couns. Morgan Nagel and Pat Wilson, voted in favour of the budget – which comes with a 2.98 per cent tax hike or $5.44 per month on the average tax bill. This is based on a presumed growth rate of four per cent and is a rolling three-year budget with anticipated tax hikes of 3.66 per cent in 2020 and 2.95 per cent in 2021. As biweekly garbage pickup has yet to be approved and will be examined again in early 2019, these costs remain the same. Average utility costs are rising by an average of $4.71 per month, which includes water, wastewater, storm sewer and Eco Centre fees – above and beyond the 2.98 per cent increase. A separate vote to green light transit was also held and passed on a 4-2 vote, with Coun. Alex Reed and Nagel voting against for fiscal reasons; Wilson recused himself from the transit vote. "I'm very disappointed. I really feel like we worked in the wrong direction," said Nagel, who also voted against topping up council salary pay to compensate for the tax hikes that would have resulted in elected officials taking home less pay. While Mayor Jeff Genung touts the budget as the best way to address current and future needs – with a heavy focus on savings for the future, infrastructure and launching transit – he was disappointed that council spent time squabbling on a net zero pay increase compared to bigger items in the budget. The 2018 budget was $52.6 million. Budget Highlights: -Contributions to facilities life cycling amounts to 1.5 per cent of the 2.98 per cent tax hike -Transit amounts to 1.17 per cent of the 2.98 per cent tax hike -New bridge across the Bow River and James Walker Trail South: total price tag $53.5 million; of this, $31.5 million in 2018 and another $12.32 million in 2019 for a total of $43.8 million approved to date. -On-demand transit starting in September 2019: total of $1.5 million in capital projects for bus stops software in 2019; a transit hub for $3.5 million; $2 million for buses; $300,000 for operations in 2019. $600,000 for operations for each 2020 and 2021, with projected revenue and reserve transfer offsets. -Pathway connections from Sunset Ridge to the Cochrane Ranche and SLSFSC to Jim Uffelmann Memorial Park totalling $250,000 -Upgrade to George Fox Trail $2 million -Design to widen Centre Ave at Hwy 1A $300,000. Construction $2.93 million -Pedestrian crossing between Heartland and West Valley: included in 2018 budget -Purchase of 160 acres north of Heritage Hills from Rocky View County for recreational purposes: $1.6 million -Addition of one RCMP member: budgeted cost $165,000 -7.5 new staff positions: included in individual budgets and four per cent growth 2019 total budget = $63.6M of which $27.5M is funded from municipal property taxes 2020 total budget =$59.8M with taxes of $29.6M 2021 total budget = $63.5M with taxes of $31.7M Learn more at cochrane.ca/budget.
