Accusations fly during budget vote

Councillor Alex Reed launched an attack upon Marni Fedeyko during discussions leading up to the approval of the 2024 town budget.

On Dec. 11, the less contentious, actually praised, capital budget was approved by a 6-1 margin, and the operating budget passed by a slim 4-3 margin.

Fedeyko was one of three councillors who didn't vote in favour of the operating budget, believing efforts could have been made to reduce the 3.63 per cent increase for 2024. She continued to be troubled by the lack of details surrounding $40 million in expenditures.

Reed accused Fedeyko of wanting to decrease the budget on the backs of nonunionized staff members by not providing them with a fair cost of living increase.

"Nor do I agree with Councillor Fedeyko that we should postpone the hiring of critically necessary, boots-on-the-ground positions that the majority of council has agreed we desperately need, and to postpone that any further delays the critical initiatives and services our citizens have asked us to serve."

Fedeyko said none of this is true. She said she has not asked nonunionized town staff to go without COLA, nor suggested the hiring of additional staff was unnecessary.

"I think it is our job as councillors to do due diligence to find out as many different options of what the costs were, and then I would respect everybody's opinion around this table, as I would hope you would respect mind, by looking at those numbers and making a rational decision once we have it. But not being provided the information makes it very difficult to decide if it's anything I'd like to pursue."

Furthermore, Fedeyko said she did not say she was in favour of holding off hiring but that it was a matter of looking at the numbers and making the right decision. 

The town budget has been approved as originally presented at council's committee-of-the-whole meeting the week previous. It calls for a 3.63 increase in property taxes to largely maintain current services at a time when inflation is about three per cent. It's net of a projected 3.87 per cent growth in assessment

It also has a robust $26.7 million capital budget to improve infrastructure, facilities, roads/parks, and utilities.

The town is projected to have a debt of $51.6 million by the end of 20224, $40 million less than the town-imposed limit.

At least 2 councillors oppose town budget

When you include an increase in utility costs, it amounts to about $225 for the average home in Cochrane for the year.

Councillor Reed said he believes the 2024 speaks to the needs expressed by the majority of residents.

"I think that despite the kind of half-truths and fiction that some people have made in their 'Trump-style' politics of repeating some fictional comments often enough so that somehow they think they will become reality, that we've done a really good job, a reasonable job, and a rational job providing a conservative, effective, efficient budget that speaks to the majority of our citizens."

He praised the administration's pre-budget engagement and consultation with residents.

"The final budget clearly indicates and reflects council's commitment to listening during these economic times," said Reed.

He said it was one of the lowest, if not the lowest, increase in municipal taxes in Alberta.

In contrast, Councillor Morgan Nagel voted against the budget, as he indicated in advance because he believes the town did not leave every rock unturned in keeping costs down.Councillor Susan Flowers said it was a reasonable increase that keeps up with inflation, something the town hadn't done in the past.

She reminded council of how the community service department was completely dismantled in the past and is now in the process of being rebuilt.

"I'm really happy with this. I think the number is small enough, it's inflation and adding some of the things we need, especially the firefighters and the safety in our community."

Councillor Tara McFadden was also opposed, expressing dissatisfaction with the operating budget process.

Mayor Jeff Genung agreed with the budget and said the current council has been burdened by dealing with growth pressures being experienced in the town before 2017.

"I am not prepared to take anything away from our community at this point and the expectations that Cochranites already have in the service levels we're already providing. Nor am I prepared to pass on financial burdens and issues to either the next council or the next generation. I think it's this group's responsibility to not hand off problems, and I'm not suggesting that councils or the administrations have the past have done that, but I think we can manage the reality we are in."

He believes the town is an efficient organization and doesn't like the commentary that they aren't or suggesting that there are wrongdoings.

"We have lower taxes than most. We've seen charts and studies and data that provide that information, it's not just something we're touting, and I believe this is a fiscally responsible budget that had actuals presented to us."

Councillor Patrick Wilson also supported the budget, calling it lean and effective.

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