The recent approval by St. Albert City Council of a branch library, the details of which we know so little, reveals in stark clarity the amateurish and clumsy budgeting and development processes of St. Albert.
In fact, it would be difficult to find any rule of sound budgeting that the city has followed correctly. There is one rule – projects are usually approved by the elected council before money can be spent on them.
It would be quite a challenge to correct this financial train wreck, but we must do everything we can to try. It will most likely be best fixed in steps, since there will be new responsibilities for personnel and some re-education required.
The first step would be to re-structure the budget process and the rules governing debt management, expense categories, approval of capital projects, funding offsets and the minimum rules for creating and rejecting new budget items.
There should be strict rules for unbudgeted items. This would include the concept that there is only so much money available each year for spending. This re-structuring alone would force changes to much of the irresponsible, bohemian attitudes toward piling debt onto the backs of our grandchildren.
More than anything, this administration and council needs to follow responsible money management. No one in the administration or council gets to violate any principle of sound management once the rules are established.
W.G. Whitney, St. Albert
