Jack Farrell

Where's the home-ec room again? Where's your locker? Let's go to the cafeteria!

The service efficiencies and cost savings expected to materialize through a regional transit network are appearing further away than initially thought for St. Albert city councillors.

Servus Place is expected to have an operating deficit of $2.1 million for 2022, which is $500,000 less than what was estimated in the 2022 budget.

St. Albert city councillors voiced their displeasure about the costs associated with the city's participation in the new regional transit network set to operate next year during a special city council meeting on Nov. 22.

The proposed budget includes a 5.8 per cent property tax increase, a 3.8 per cent utility rate increase, an already approved five per cent electrical franchise fee increase, and approximately $117.1 million in spending earmarked for 34 utility and municipal projects to address St. Albert's infrastructure and growth needs. 

St. Albert city council wrapped up budget deliberations on Dec. 1.

City council worked their way through 21 motions during a budget deliberation meeting on Nov. 29, including the postponement of an update to the city's transportation master plan, the approval of $45,000 to upgrade the security system at Fire Hall No. 2, the creation of one full-time permanent position with the city, and the approval of $39,000 for increased grass mowing.

A new fire station scheduled to open in 2025 may be the first of its' kind in St. Albert.

St. Albert will be paying more than $9 million for regional transit services in the upcoming year, which will bump the city's recommended property tax increase up from 4.6 per cent to 5.8 per cent.

Over a dozen capital projects in various stages of completion may potentially be postponed as a result of the city's efforts to lower the 2023 tax increase.