Budget approved

Times Reporter

 

Rocky View County approved their 2011 budget at the end of March, with the new tax rates to be set later this month. Last year the county, which governs Langdon and area, ran a zero percent tax increase for their 2010 budget, but this year are contemplating a three per cent increase. 

“You can’t keeping running the budget at zero. It’s just impossible, if you know the price of electricity, or the price of gasoline at the pump, that has to be reflected in a budget or you’ll be potentially running a budget (in) deficit,” said Barry Woods, Financial Services Manager for Rocky View County. 

Woods said based on the 2010 consumer price index numbers, inflation was actually zero or in a slight negative, so Rocky View County felt they could mirror the reflection of the economy in their 2010 budget. Woods said if people were destitute and there is no inflation, then the county should be able to hold the line on increases. 

Woods said council didn’t get a lot of public feedback regarding the possible tax increase. While the county did have public input the day they set the budget, Woods said during that session they didn’t receive many comments in respect to the taxes. Rocky View County had deliberated over some time to find a good balance for the budget. 

“It’s always a balancing act, services for money, I mean, if you reduce money, you reduce service, because you can’t fund service without money,” said Woods.

“So it is definitely always a balancing act, and you want to get that balance of the correct level of service that the tax increase is going to support.” 

Rocky View County is now waiting for the external requisition numbers from the school board and their seniors foundation before setting the new rates. The new tax rates are scheduled to be set April 26.