Twelve council meetings.
100 motions.
Zero fist fights.
Equals one civic budget.
Save for a few motions left for Dec. 22, council tonight could pretty much wrap up the 2009 operating and 2009-11 capital budget.
All but a handful of outstanding motions remain, most of them focused on Servus Credit Union Place. Mayor Nolan Crouse wants to raise revenues and cut spending, removing the "conservatism" he says administration built into the budget.
Crouse also wants to use surplus dollars from 2008 to fund $125,000 of the $150,000 in next year's budget for 150th anniversary celebrations.
There's also a motion about what to do with the AltaLink power line.
Cut capital?
The last motion up for debate should be interesting. The mayor wants to change how capital projects are funded, using as many unallocated grants as possible instead of tax dollars (also called pay-as-you-go).
Crouse said his goal is to lower the property tax increase. The only way he do that is by eliminating the annual infusion of tax dollars that go into the capital fund. That creates problems for the entire 10-year capital plan.
Let me explain. Every year the city transfers about $12 million from operating (taxes) into the capital fund. The city calls this tax infusion the "capital envelope."
Of the $12.6 million in 2009, roughly $3 million will go toward actual capital projects, $4 million into reserves for future projects, while $5 million will pay off debt.
Administration has already advised against cutting the capital envelope for a one-time tax savings. Dean Screpnek, the city's CFO, says such a move would set back the entire 10-year capital plan.
The capital plan, by the way, lists $730 million worth of projects. The city only has $475 million in identified funding.
The mayor will have to make a mighty convincing pitch to convince three other council members to vote his way. Given how Crouse was outvoted recently on the extra $1 million for road maintenance, one might argue he'll be in tough.
The budget meeting starts at 4 p.m. I'll post an updated tax increase as soon as proceedings wrap up.
Cut capital?
The last motion up for debate should be interesting. The mayor wants to change how capital projects are funded, using as many unallocated grants as possible instead of tax dollars (also called pay-as-you-go).
Crouse said his goal is to lower the property tax increase. The only way he do that is by eliminating the annual infusion of tax dollars that go into the capital fund. That creates problems for the entire 10-year capital plan.
Let me explain. Every year the city transfers about $12 million from operating (taxes) into the capital fund. The city calls this tax infusion the "capital envelope."
Of the $12.6 million in 2009, roughly $3 million will go toward actual capital projects, $4 million into reserves for future projects, while $5 million will pay off debt.
Administration has already advised against cutting the capital envelope for a one-time tax savings. Dean Screpnek, the city's CFO, says such a move would set back the entire 10-year capital plan.
The capital plan, by the way, lists $730 million worth of projects. The city only has $475 million in identified funding.
The mayor will have to make a mighty convincing pitch to convince three other council members to vote his way. Given how Crouse was outvoted recently on the extra $1 million for road maintenance, one might argue he'll be in tough.
The budget meeting starts at 4 p.m. I'll post an updated tax increase as soon as proceedings wrap up.
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