If one were to apply a theme to this year’s budget deliberations it would certainly be council’s desire to address what some view as a speeding epidemic in Cochrane.
Council held its 2015 budget discussion Nov. 28, and the day kicked off with a debate over what measure the Town of Cochrane could take to tackle speeding.
Several options were addressed, including photo enforcement (radar), mobile speed bumps (a motion brought forward by councillor Mary Lou Davis), additional RCMP officers and/or peace/bylaw officers.
In the end, photo radar was more seen as a ‘cash cow,’ and something that would not deter motorists from slowing down, and speed bumps were also not the desired approach of council. Instead, the hiring of an additional RCMP officer was approved — one was already in the 2015 draft budget and a second was added — to the tune of $151,415. It was estimated by town administration that the added RCMP officer would garner around $175,000 in traffic fine revenue, more than paying for the cost of adding the position.
One of the approved officers will be asked to focus on traffic enforcement, while the other on domestic violence and social issues.
A summer student position with municipal enforcement was also added to the budget at a cost of $16,000.
Some other tweaks council made to the 2015 budget included decreasing the recommended increase in pay for the mayor and councillors.
Administration had recommended Mayor Ivan Brooker receive a $18,000 pay raise for 2015; that amount was lowered to $14,584, bringing the mayor’s total remuneration to $83,086. Canmore’s mayor brings in just under $84,000 with a base salary and allowances; the Banff mayor around $77,000; and Okotoks, about $74,000.
Cochrane councillors will also get a bump in pay, receiving $27,967 for 2015. Councillor’s 2014 remuneration was $25,982 (base salary combined with allowances). In total, administration recommended $37,265 in pay increases for mayor and council and $23,844 was approved.
How much and which organizations would receive grant funding was also ironed out during budget deliberations.
The Rocky View Regional Handibus will get $107,682, up from the recommended $101,400.
The Cochrane Tourism Association will received $47,190, and council asked that an agreement be drafted that creates a better understanding for how Cochrane Tourism determines who it provides grants to.
Tourism handed out around $17,000 in grants in 2014.
Following a brief discussion on whether Sustainable Partners Uniting Resources (SPUR) should continue to receive funding from the town, council approved providing the organization $10,000.
“We’re getting good value from them,” councillor Ross Watson said of SPUR.
The Nan Boothby Memorial Library will receive $422,900 from the town for its operations, $35,000 more than what was recommended by administration. The library had requested $613,799.
Budget revisions resulted in a decrease of $1,412, leaving the property tax increase at 2.9 per cent.
