Okotoks - Council approves 4% tax increase

By Laurel Nadon
Staff reporter

Okotoks residents will see a four per cent tax increase in 2007 instead of a five per cent increase as previously expected.
Ratepayers can expect to pay $60 to $65 more in municipal property taxes in 2007 than paid in 2006 for a typical home, depending on its assessed value. During finance and budget committee deliberations, this was initially expected to be $75 to $85 more in 2007.
Town council unanimously passed the operating budget for 2007 at its meeting on Monday. The total operating budget will go from $22.7 million in 2006 to $26.25 million in 2007.
“I’m pleased to see that we were able to hold it to a four per cent increase,” said Mayor Bill McAlpine.
Coun. Jamie Tiessen, chair of the finance and budget committee, said he feels the budget will maintain a safe community, support those in need and manage expansion of municipal infrastructure.
“Our budget will ensure that all current service levels are maintained,” Tiessen said. “We reduced it (the budget) slightly, but still met all the objectives we wanted to meet.”
The town will increase funds to the recapitalization reserve, with an additional $375,000 over 2006 levels, to $1,665,000. These funds are used to maintain capital assets. The committee had originally proposed increasing the recapitalization reserve by $450,000, but decreased this slightly to lower the overall budget.
Other highlights of the budget include increasing the recreation facilities capital reserve contribution by $50,000 over 2006 levels and setting aside $115,000 for the newly created cultural facilities reserve. The budget also includes $18,000 for the 2007 municipal election, a five per cent increase in indoor facilities user rates and a $179,877 increase in support for open spaces.
Coun. Bill Robertson said it’s a responsible tax increase in these times and he’s particularly happy to see an increase in the recapitalization reserve.
“Homes that have a higher assessment will pay more and those with a lower assessment will pay less,” Robertson said.
One part of the budget that raised debate was a $7,000 contribution to the Okotoks Pro Rodeo, which Coun. Laurie Hodson opposed. The town is at the end of a three-year commitment for $7,000 each year and included a new one-year commitment of $7,000 in the 2007 budget.
“I believe it’s a misuse of tax dollars,” Hodson said.
Robertson as well as Councillors Laurie Cherkowski and Ed Sands argued in favour of supporting the rodeo, saying that funds raised go back into the community.
“I feel it’s a sound investment in a western cultural event and recreational amenity in our town,” Sands said, noting that it amounts to $1.50 per household.
Council also approved capital projects for fleet services including $60,000 for tractor replacement, $30,000 for two used vehicles, $40,000 for a wood chipper, $60,000 for a hydro-vac tank and trailer, $23,000 for a radar trailer unit and $26,000 for two new offroad vehicles.
The town’s tax rates will be set in April after the school tax requisitions are released.

In this issue...
Editorial Paul's Place News Sports Entertainment Classified Ads Foothills Visitor Guide Directory		Singing for supper Canadian entertainer Tom Jackson to perform in High River • See Scene Rolling along Okotoks Jr. A Oilers extend winning streak • See Sports

Reindeer treats

Education - Parents take legal action on busing

Second public meeting draws a crowd

By Laurel Nadon
Staff reporter

A meeting that began to determine the configuration of portables at the Millarville Community School quickly turned into a debate about why the portables are needed in the first place.
The Foothills School Division has slated the south wing and basement of the school for closure and possible demolition with classroom space to be replaced by six portables. The division is also open to selling the south wing to the community for $1.
Approximately 60 residents gathered for the meeting on Monday night where the division brought forward three location options for the portables.
Community members and parents, however, were intent on revisiting the decision to apply for the portables.
Resident Susan Biddle said she wants to see more research done on restoring the school’s current space, as damage in the basement, which resulted from the 2005 floods, isn’t a common occurrence.
“Does this mean we’re sacrificing the opportunity to modernize our school because of these portables?” Biddle asked. “It doesn’t make sense to me to spend this money on a problem that has less than one per cent chance of occurring in any given year.”
Biddle said she’d prefer to see the division spend money on the current building rather than on “tin cans”.
For Susan Graham, chair of the school council, there are still many questions surrounding the portables.
“I think one question is a reason for why we’d want to replace our existing permanent space with relocatables,” Graham said. “I think a big concern is why the government wants to spend this amount of money rather than a portion of it to fix what we have.”
Drew Chipman, secretary
treasurer for the school division, said if they pursued modernization, it could take years whereas emergent funding for portables can be approved quickly.
Jim McLellan, superintendent of schools, said their goal isn’t to see these portables remain at the school for the long-term.
“We’d like nothing better than to have to approach the government for permanent space,” McLellan said. “In the meantime, we feel the portables will be another page in the success of Millarville School. We want bright, new space for our students here at Millarville Community School and we want it to be permanent space.”
He noted that there is no date for the portables to arrive as their dimensions will be based on the configuration option chosen.
Initially the division, as part of its Vision 20/20 process, had recommended that the basement be closed and then decided that new space should be pursued.
The FSD considered closure of the basement at its March 22 meeting, but tabled that motion. On June 7, the board rescinded the motion to close the basement and decided to move ahead with the portables.
Principal Ted Thorne said he’s in support of the first option, which would see the south wing built in 1951 demolished and the portables located in its place.
“I know this has been a very contentious issue for many people,” Thorne said. “My staff is in support of the portables.”
Parent Cindy Kaenel, however, said she feels strongly that if the school was made into portables, it will marginalize the school. She’s also concerned that the division hasn’t shared enough information with the public.
Other parents weren’t against the idea of portables. Lynne Williams said her main concern is making sure that the school will still have a nice entrance. She said the portables don’t mean the school is in danger of closing as there are many families in the area.
Parent Lisa Willis, also a bus driver for the school, said the portables provide a nice space.
“I’m not opposed to them. I’d rather see a safe, healthy space than one that poses a health risk,” Willis said, adding that some of the people who don’t want the south wing or basement closed are holding onto the past.
The six portables are estimated to cost $832,000 and have a lifetime expectancy of approximately 40 years. Repairs at the school to modernize the south wing are estimated to cost $800,000.
The portables bring the classroom space to 10 classrooms, although the space for an art room, science lab, music room and computer lab would still be lacking without the south wing.
McLellan said the board will discuss the issue at its meeting on Wednesday (today) and also plans to sit down with the school’s modernization committee to find a compromise or common ground.