The 2013 budget was approved by council on Dec. 10 despite some significant trepidations over what may arise from the upcoming arbitration between the town and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
“This isn’t an issue of wanting to be paid the same as everyone else,” alleged Cochrane mayor Truper McBride of the IAFF demands, saying that the town paid firefighters a higher wage compared to ‘the average firefighter’ just two years ago. “This is an issue of the union operating as a machine across this province in small-town municipalities like Cochrane artificially jacking up what the average cost of a firefighter is.”
McBride was quite boisterous with his apprehension to support a budget he said was being ‘held ransom’ by the IAFF.
“I think it’s outrageous,” he said, “and people in this community should be outraged by this...it’s going to be crippling our ability to move forward as this community grows.”
The discussion over a possible tax increase for fire protection morphed into a mini debate over what to do about transit.
Councillor Ross Watson put a motion on the table to approve the budget on the condition that $50,000, which was taken away from the transit operating reserve during deliberations, be returned to the transit reserve.
Councillors Ivan Brooker and Jeff Toews did not support such a condition, echoing concerns that with the imminent arbitration with the IAFF, it was council’s responsibility to save as much taxpayer money as possible in the event the negotiations result in the town having to pay additional funds for fire protection.
“Every dime is going to matter,” said Toews.
Watson and councillor Tara McFadden, however, felt the $50,000 was very important to the transit plan, and that allowing such a service to suffer at the hands of the IAFF would be counterproductive.
The budget passed with a 4-2 vote; councillor Ivan Davies was absent.
Council got an update on the town’s growth management strategy, a draft document that helps to deal with what is expected to be a rapidly-growing population going into the next 50 years.
The document identifies three types of land uses — residential, employment (industrial and office) and commercial — and determines whether there is enough on hand to accommodate future need.
At present, the total land the town believes is required for the next 50 years is 1,619 hectares. The current supply is 1,672, meaning there will be no need for annexation during that time.
The town is in a position to accommodate growth with its current infrastructure to a population of 35,000-40,000. Additional water licensing is being looked into for once the population doubles, which is expected to occur in about 20 years.
By 2062, Cochrane’s population is expected to be 2.6 per cent of the Calgary area, or 65,800.
The municipality is anticipated to provide 18,600 jobs in 50 years time.
