Town hosts Budget 2022 info session

By Grant Cree

“I think it’s great seeing all the residents come out here tonight,” said Morinville Mayor Simon Boersma. He was in the Community Cultural Centre on March 15, surrounded by a few dozen residents attending a Town-sponsored evening information session on the provincial Budget 2022.

“I’m already hearing some great questions,” said Mayor Boersma.

“I think it’s important that we understand which levers we need to pull, and we need to have our residents’ feedback. That’s the most important thing because we are seven people within this community as a council.”

During the March 22 Town Council meeting, the seven councillors will discuss and vote on a plan to raise taxes by five percent. Travis Nosko, Manager of Financial Services with the Town of Morinville, spoke to media about the implications of the provincial budget on the Town’s finances. 

“We are working on things; we’re trying,” said Nosko. “We know there is really no way around the fact that we have some financial challenges, that’s for sure. But we are working with Council to find creative ways to address that.”

Nosko said the long-term plan to manage the Town’s financial situation would be to do things differently, emphasizing more cost-effectiveness. “We’re making strides, and we’re going to continue making strides and making some improvements. It has been a tough couple of years for every municipality.”

He noted that Morinville had “the dubious distinction” of opening the Leisure Centre during the pandemic. “But we’re optimistic things will be a lot better at the MLC this year, which will be a big help for us because it’s a big driver of our costs in town.”

Nosko added that one financial plan is to generate more revenue at the MLC and turn it into a self-funded operation. As for the provincial government’s Budget 2022, he said: “This budget was a tough one, being an election year and having new council and things like that.”

He said the Town has “invested a lot of money” in big-ticket items over the last two years. That resulted in using a substantial amount of its reserves, which means Council relies a little bit more on government grants. Nosko said he is working with Town Council and staff to turn things in a positive direction.

“To have those significant cuts this year definitely cuts deep,” said Nosko. “It makes us have to pinch pennies a little bit on the capital side and get creative with things. We are just going to have to rein it in and focus on core infrastructure for a bit while we get things built back on.”

Mayor Boersma urged residents to visit the Town website to get the facts and register their concerns by phone or email with their Councillor. “I think those are important things because of the feedback we get. I’m available via email or through a meeting every Wednesday.” The Town website is www.morinville.ca.