The 2022 city budget includes investments into the fire department, Lions Park and the Aquatic Centre without any tax increases. (file photo/meadowlakeNOW staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Budget complete

Meadow Lake City Council approves 2022 budget

Jan 25, 2022 | 8:15 AM

The City of Meadow Lake has reached an agreement and adopted the municipal budget for 2022.

The financial blueprint is headlined by more than $16-million in capital and operating expenses and a projected deficit of just under $300,000. However, the 2021 forecast surplus of more than $675,000 offsets that amount, providing the city with additional means for the year.

This approval comes after being delayed for nearly one month since the original budget meeting was held in December.

During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Merlin Seymour explained the City’s department heads used the two weeks prior to the meeting to make necessary corrections to the budget. At the same time, some additional changes were made in a final attempt to save money in different areas.

“Administration did go back to the various managers asking for how you can cut some of your budget,” Seymour said.

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“In the work that was done over the last two weeks with all the department heads and managers, there was some savings that come back, and it is reflected in the draft budget proposal.”

As a result, the City is operating in confidence without implementing any tax increases throughout 2022. Seymour added the moves reduce the strain on residents as they continue to ensure the economic impacts stemming from the pandemic.

“Going back to the department heads, shaving some stuff off and saving in the long run for the community as a whole, I think this is a good step,” he said.

Coun. Conrad Read, who attended the meeting via phone call, also commended administration’s efforts at the time, saying the findings will ease the burden on taxpayers.

“They went back and fine tuned their budget, scaled it back and made our job a little easier,” he commented.

“I’d like to thank them for going through that little exercise, but I think it’s worth it to the taxpayers of Meadow Lake. It’s not always raised taxes, and we have to do the little bit with what we have.”

Key investments in the nearly $4.9-million capital budget include more than $160,000 in equipment purchases and upgrades for the fire department. Another $300,000 is set aside for transportation services to purchase a used grader for maintaining gravel roads in the summer and snow removal in the winter.

Lions Park and the Aquatic Centre will also receive a combined investment of almost $100,000 to upgrade and improve essential items in both locations.

The operating budget, which is projected at approximately $11.2-million, includes several additions that are covered by the savings found by administration.

New investments are headlined by the expansion of the fire department’s roster, the creation of a new Executive Assistant role with the City and an OH&S audit and program overhaul.

A previously discussed move that would create a new Building Official role with the City, relieving Fire Chief Neil Marsh of those responsibilities, was defeated at the council meeting, and will not be included in the government’s spending plan.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp