Following weeks of deliberation, Council voted to accept the proposed 2011 Municipal Fiscal Budget on Tuesday, Feb. 1st, which will include a 0.1 per cent increase in taxes.
The budget includes funding for hiring of additional municipal positions, which Administration says will assist with economic sustainability.
The first position administration recommended was that of an Operational Services Foreman, which is “critical, as there are many needs in Operational Services to ensure core services are being provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner.”
The foreman will assume many of the current duties in the field to ensure work is being completed efficiently, and will review how to gain operational efficiencies, the current allocation of human resources and equipment, and how to best use facilities, freeing up Director of Operational Services Myron Thompson to focus on strategic matters.
The second position is a Human Resources/Benefits Administrative Clerk, sharing the load currently tasked to Director of Legislative and Human Resources Services, Lynn Cox.
The third will be an Agriculture Services Fieldman, a grant funded position which will be responsible for the long term sustainability of the natural environment.
The next two positions are a Recreation Programmer and FCSS Programmer, the latter of which will be funded through FCSS, meaning the municipality would only be responsible for 20 per cent of the costs.
The Recreation Programmer would be responsible for developing and implementing programs that increase the utilization of facilities, thereby increasing revenues.
The final position is a Special Projects/Administrative Assistant, which would serve in the finance department, and would assist in facilitating changes to the budget process, the selection and implementation of performance measures, and ensuring the budget is modified to better reflect the activities and financial responsibilities of the municipality.