Taxation: Municipal Budgeting

Step two in the taxation process is building a budget. 

Each municipality must go over their spending in each and every department during the previous year, then decide how much money that municipality will need to operate for the upcoming year.  The budgeting process begins in the fall of each year.

Most larger municipalities finalize their budgets close to the beginning of the calendar year, but many smaller ones finalize theirs in late spring.  For those who wait until spring, they must create and authorize an "Interim Budget," which is basically just an extension of last year's budget.

Provincial law mandates that municipalities must not operate with a deficit budget - so councils and administration staff  must work hard to "balance the budget" each year before in can be approved.

Smaller communities like ours must run a very tight ship.  We must provide our citizens with everything a larger municipality does, but with far fewer people to "pay the bills!"   Citizens of Beiseker still require streets and sidewalks, street lights, water & sewer services, playgrounds, recreation & cultural facilities, and fire protection, along with a host of other services -- but our tax base is much smaller than a city!

For example, an arena in a city must serve (and be paid for by) at least 20,000 taxpayers.  A small town arena may only serve fewer than 2000 people.  Yet both buildings must be built, maintained, and operated in a similar manner.  Beiseker is very fortunate that our Ag Society has taken on the task of managing our arena, here!

After the budget has been created and approved by the elected council, it's time to set the mill rate.

Keeping Beiseker Happy and Healthy

Beiseker is very lucky to have the support services it already has, for a community of our size.  But they can be better!

• Community Links:  This new facility in Lions' Centennial Park (across from the Community Centre) has made living here even better for many people!  Family support services, parenting programs, counselling services, and a multitude of other programs can be accessed through Community Links!  The building also houses our very active and attractive Library and Play School.
• Medical Centre:  Our Medical Building on Main Street at Third Ave. is home to a physician twice a week and a dentist once a week.  It is not operated by the Village but is supported by them.
• Education;  Beiseker Community School is now a K to 12 facility and will become one of the main attractive features for those considering moving to Beiseker in the future!
• Recreation;  Our village offers an amazing choice of recreational activities and facilities, from the village owned Beiseker Arena (operated by the Ag Society) to playgrounds and outdoor facilities such as the skateboard park and ball diamonds. 
• Youth Justice:  Young offenders in our area can be referred to the Alternate Measures Program through the Big Country Youth Justice Committee, founded here more than twenty years ago!  If they successfully complete the Alternate Measures Program, the young offender avoids having a police record.
• Fire Department;  Beiseker has a very active and effective volunteer fire department manned by very dedicated people.  Their job has been made easier with the recent purchase of a more modern fire truck! Operating in conjunction with our fire department is our first response medical team who are equipped and trained to provide assistance to those in our village injured or ill and waiting for the ambulance.

With your vote, I will continue my efforts to enhance these services.  Here are some of my goals;

• To investigate the possibility of having the Community Links program open more than two days per week.
• To help get the word out as to what the Community Links programs and facility can do for you.
• To communicate with the operating board of the Medical Building to make sure they are receiving all the assistance they need to operate this important facility.  I do firmly believe in the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - and I will recommend the village become involved only if invited!
• To keep reminding the provincial and federal governments that we need effective policing from our RCMP detachment here, with a full complement of officers at all times.
• To remain serving on the Big Country Youth Justice Committee and I will be active in recruiting new members to that committee.
• To continue supporting Rocky View Schools and their efforts to make Beiseker Community School an active part of our community.
• To ensure that the recreational facilities meet the need of our villagers and to keep them in tip top order.
• To do my utmost to create mutual aid agreements with all surrounding jurisdictions in regards to emergency services.  I believe this is imperative to maintaining a strong volunteer fire department, providing emergency services to Beiseker and the surrounding area.
• To once again throw our voice into the debate to have a full hospital built in Airdrie.

Town Hall Meeting

Beiseker Village Council has decided to conduct its next meeting as a Town Hall Meeting.  The meeting will be held on our regular meeting time and date; Monday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m.  But instead of meeting in our council chambers, we will meet at the Beiseker Community Centre.

There will be seating for as many residents as want to come.  We will follow an abbreviated council agenda then open the floor to anyone present.  This will be chance for any village resident to watch council work.

They then will also be able to ask council about any issue or concern which might affect the village.  We will not permit personal attacks on individuals either on council or in the village's employ.

While reading Facebook, I expect to hear questions about summer projects, the new fire hall, Grasslands, potholes, garbage pick-up, recycling, property taxes, the Bassano Station, the airport, the Fire Department, the Arena, and many other topics.

Please pass the word along about our first Town Hall Meeting in many years.  Council hopes to make this an annual or semi-annual event and I hope to see you all there!

Beiseker Photos

Some photos of Beiseker from about 2005 have been added to my Flickr photostream -

 

These photos have also been shared through the Village of Beiseker's Facebook page.

What's Up

Hey! Want a free energy kit to monitor and control energy use in your Beiseker home? If so, head down to the Village Office and ask for a Fortis Energy Kit. There are dozens of ways you can save energy use in your home and save money, too. And it doesn't do the environment any harm either!

Reminder; if you have a dog or cat, 2011 licenses are now due!

Check out the fabulous skate program at the arena. There's a program for everyone.

Start planning for the Beiseker Lion's Skatathon. Sunday March 27

Giddy-Up Aggie Days! If you have a youngster with special needs or you know of one, consider having them participate in Giddy-Up Aggie Days at Stampede Park in April. Aggie Days is a program which brings Alberta's Agricultural Industry to the city. We turn the BMO Center into a giant barn! We milk cows, shear sheep, raise chickens, saddle horses, make flour, make butter and a host of other ag. related activities so urban Albertans can see where their food comes from. We have teamed up with the Stampede Queens' Alumni to open up Aggie Days for special needs kids and their families to come down and experience it together! We start with a free breakfast and the fun goes on from there! If you're interested and you need more information, contact the folks at Community Links in Beiseker! 403 947 2841

I am frustrated that I can't afford to shop at the grocery store in my own village!