Delays in finalizing Turner Valley’s 2013 budget are not expected to have a significant impact on essential community’s operations.

Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck said although the Town is likely the furthest behind of any community in the region to complete its budget for 2013, its interim budget and three-year plan will keep the Town operating smoothly in the meantime.

“We’ve immediately gone into our interim budget,” she said. “It allows our municipality to move ahead on an every day basis.”

Tuck said the delay occurred as a result of Turner Valley’s financial officer taking a job in another community last month and the inability to find a replacement. The duties of finance manager have been temporarily transferred to Chief Administrative Officer Leslie Fitzgerald, who has a background in finance, said Tuck.

Although the Town’s preliminary budget was presented to council in November, council has not worked on any aspect of the budget since, she said.

However, capital projects such as construction of roads and signage replacements are not being hindered by the delay, said Tuck.

“There are no big capital costs happening right now,” she said. “Those won’t move ahead until the budget is complete.”

Tuck said Turner Valley’s three-year budget and 10 year capital budget allow the community to save for upcoming projects, which is particularly important considering the town’s small tax base.

To keep costs low, the Town applies for grants whenever possible, she said.

“We’ve been fortunate because the last two years the municipality has had a zero percent increase in their (municipal) taxes,” she said. “We are very tight with our money.”

As for whether taxpayers can expect an increase in their municipal taxes for 2013, Tuck said she isn’t sure yet.

“We don’t know at this point,” she said. “We are hoping in the next weeks we will be in the full swing of the budget.”

The finance manager position has been posted on the Town’s website.

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