A $37.28 million operating budget was approved by Council at the 2024 Budget meeting, on Tuesday, April 23, that focuses on affordability for residents while continuing to offer high-quality services to the community.
Council says the budget was designed to touch every pillar of their Strategic Plan:
- Creating a Connected Community that is Safe and Inclusive,
- Fostering a Robust and Adaptable Economy,
- Responding to a Changing Global Environment,
- Ensuring Quality Infrastructure and
- Providing Effective Leadership and Community Engagement.
“Council is pleased to support this final Operating Budget, which sees no new user fee increases, but continues to focus on quality services for our residents,” says Edson Mayor, Kevin Zahara. “It was important to council to limit increases considering the immense financial pressure Canadians are dealing with. This is a difficult balance considering costs to municipalities also continue to increase, but we feel we’ve been presented a fair budget that addresses both affordability and quality levels of service.”
The overall taxation increase for 2024 is 2.89 per cent. Administration says the Reserve Policy requires 0.5 per cent, with the remaining 2.39 per cent going towards new budget initiatives. On an average residential assessment of $336,400, officials say this would equate to an increase of $65.50 for the year.
Council also approved a couple of changes for the 2024 Capital budget, including an increase of $60.24 million for YCE Multi-use Facility with the project set to commence this summer, and a decrease of $1.5 million in the Township Road 532 project.
The full 2024 Budget Summary can be viewed below.