Rocky View County’s (RVC) 2015 draft budget is calling for a 4.3 per cent property tax increase.
Three per cent of the proposed rise in taxes is aimed at the county continuing to provide the same level of services as it did in 2014, while 1.3 per cent is to complete funding of the operations for the new Bearspaw Fire Hall.
The draft operating and capital base budget will be presented to RVC council Dec. 9, which will be followed early in the New Year by council discussions on potential new services and conclude with final budget approval in April 2015.
Though RVC councillor Jerry Arshinoff recently addressed his concern to the Eagle that budget workshops held Nov. 6 and 27 were closed to the public, the county highlighted that it has made significant efforts to include the public on the 2015 budget, including its ‘Your County, Your Money, Your Voice’ program, which was intended to give residents the opportunity to express opinions on services and service standards.
RVC indicated that the program provided residents the chance to give their ideas without having to attend a council meeting or require them to be comfortable with public speaking, as well as to submit suggestions during the preparation stages of the budget rather than at the end of the process.
The 2015 draft budget is posted on the county website (rockyview.ca) and, according to RVC, includes the results of the ‘Your County, Your Money, Your Voice’ program.
