There’s a copy of the draft budget on my desk with circles, lines and question marks scribbled all over it.
It’s the seventh budget I’ve worked on in my time as a councillor. I remember my first budget debates with a team of rookie councillors. Not only was I worried about the tax rate and how to meet the demands of the voters, but how to use the microphone during the debate. In seven years, I’ve grown a lot as one of your councillors. I’ve learned how to not only question the little things, like new truck purchases, but also the big picture like how to make sure we have staff to deliver on the projects and needs of a fast growing community. There’s a lot that has changed in seven years, and a lot that hasn’t. The biggest challenge is how do we manage growth? How do we provide the services people want at a reasonable tax rate and keep that small town Cochrane feel? There’s no one answer, and it’s not easy. You do it, decision-by-decision, budget-by-budget, policy-by-policy. And we’ve had a great deal of success.
Our community survey revealed a lot of truths. As a councillor, through your work and your relationships, you develop a feel for the community’s pulse. And it was great to see the results of the recent community survey that shows that our citizens feel the same way I do. Cochrane is a great place to live.
A few stats that proves that we’re on the right course:
- 99 per cent of residents say overall quality of life is very good or good;
- 93 per cent say they are satisfied with the overall level and quality of services and programs;
- 72 per cent of residents say they get good value for municipal property tax dollars.
But we already know it’s an amazing town, and others know it too; that’s why we had a 10 per cent growth rate last year and expect over 1,000 new residents in 2015. That’s a lot of growth. I’m confident that the 2015 budget is on the right track to manage that growth. But as a council, we need your help to ensure we’re reflecting your values in this budget. So let us know: call, email or connect with us on the town’s website before the budget debate starts Nov. 28.
There’s a lot to celebrate in Cochrane. We have new businesses moving in, great community events (shout out for the upcoming Light Up and Santa Claus Parade), and more amenities. One of these is the East End Pathway’s official opening this Friday (see related invitation in this week’s Municipal Matters). Pathways and connectivity are important to me. Getting this pathway link completed is something I campaigned for seven years ago. Getting it approved in the budget was the easy part. Getting it built has been a logistic nightmare. But we’ve delivered, and I’d like to celebrate that with everyone. So please join us for the grand opening Friday at 10 a.m., starting at the railway crossing for a short walk, hot chocolate and even shorter speeches. Come out and celebrate Cochrane. Stay connected.
