Referring to the approval and passing of the 2015 Morinville budget, Mayor Lisa Holmes – did you or did you not make a motion last year to put one per cent of the tax increase into a special fund to be held specifically for the anticipated increased operating costs of the new recreation centre? And did this motion not pass? Of course, again, I can find nothing in the minutes but have checked with several of my local friends who all remember such a motion.
If my memory is correct, then my one question to council is: Where in the 52-page budget document is this mentioned or reflected in any of the wonderful colourful graphic tables and charts?
Table 1: Revenues (Historical and Estimated) shows no special line item for this special fund and so I assume that if the motion was passed the one per cent revenue was just included under "general revenue" and spent. The reason I say spent, is on the table called Excess Funds prior to Debenture Debt Commitments and Amortization – again I see no clear indication of the one per cent revenue that should indeed be excess funds and held for the new recreation centre. What really concerns me is under the 2016 Budget we see the Operating Reserves drop from the $1,727,586 (2015 Forecast) to a mere $51,549 (2016 Budget).
Short and sweet – Where is the special funding for anticipated increased operating costs of the new recreation centre and why are we not seeing an increase in excess funds?
In closing, if my memory is correct, then I am extremely upset if indeed the one per cent was not held and spent on regular operating issues. If my memory about the motion is not correct, then please feel free to contact me.
Linda Lyons, Morinville
