March 13, 2023 Town of Westlock Adopts 2023-2026 Operating Budget
News Release
For Immediate Release
March 14, 2023
Town of Westlock Adopts 2023-2026 Operating Budget
Westlock, AB – Westlock Town Council passed the 2023-2028 Capital Budget on February 13, 2023, and now concludes the budget process by passing the 2023-2026 Operating Budget at the Regular Meeting of Council held Monday, March 13, 2023.
Council began budget discussions with Administration on November 19, 2022. Every budget process considers service levels, future planning, keeping tax increases to a minimum, and addressing those external pressures of supply chain issues, rising inflation, and ongoing increases in energy costs.
Westlock Town Council consecutively passed zero per cent tax rate increase budgets in 2020 and 2021. With the global pandemic and unprecedented pressures, those decisions were necessary. However, a zero per cent tax increase places a municipality in the negative for that year as all the external costs continued with rising gas, diesel, power, and natural gas prices. Then a 1.9% tax rate increase was approved in 2022. Work within the municipality and services were able to continue during these three years as the Town lowered the contribution to reserves to offset the rising inflationary costs.
The 2023-2026 Operating Budget requires a 3% tax increase to maintain and support operations and to address those external pressures. This equates to an average increase of approximately $5.52/month or $66.26/year for homeowners. The average non-residential property will increase by approximately $9.79/month or $117.53/year.
"We will continue with repairs and maintenance of building infrastructure and roads to refurbish and extend life and usability; this is constantly ongoing work.” Simone Wiley, Chief Administrative Officer. “With this budget, we are investing in asset management software to further and support our data-based decision making as it is embedded in all our planning. We are continuing to work on developing the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), which will assist residential homeowners in updating the energy efficiency of their homes. We've included additional funding for Family and Community Support Services and will continue with the Large Item Pick up event and the Town Wide Community Garage Sale."
"Every municipality in Alberta faces a significant reduction in support for capital infrastructure as provincial grants continue to decline at an alarming rate.” Ralph Leriger, Mayor. “Building a reasonable and workable budget is seldom something that is appreciated. No one wants taxes to rise, but those taxes pay for our services and future. This budget was carefully prepared and thought out. I'm so proud of the work Administration and Town staff accomplish for our community—roads, utility, recreation, development, so many things that go unseen and unsung."
Media contact:
Simone Wiley, Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Westlock
780-350-2100
Ralph Leriger, Mayor
Town of Westlock
780-349-6769
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March 3, 2023 WRSC Summer Camp Program Changes
News Release
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2023
Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre Summer Camp Program Changes
Westlock, AB – Town of Westlock is happy to share that we are revamping the Youth Summer Programming at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre to serve our community better. Our new WRSC Summer Camp program for youth aged 6 to 12 features a weekly camp running Monday to Friday from July 4 to August 25. This is a welcome shift from the previous Monday to Thursday program as it gives us the opportunity to include Field Trip Fridays. Additional changes in our practice are offering early registration and a summer lunch program.
"We are excited to offer early registration for Westlock region residents from April 5, 6, and 7, with registration for all opening at 8 a.m. on April 8. Campers can sign up for special summer lunches from the concession in the facility." Gerry Murphy, Director of Community Services. "These changes are intended to help families plan their summers well in advance. We want parents and caregivers to know their kids will be engaged and having fun and that the camp closely matches regular working days."
Summer camps have many benefits above and beyond having fun and being occupied during the school break. Kids develop confidence, independence, healthy living, and leadership skills that carry forward into adulthood. To foster these skills, we are accepting applications from anyone over the age of 14 to volunteer at our summer camp program this year. Apply by emailing cfedrau@westlock.ca.
"We hope to grow leaders from our campers. First the kids attend, and then as they grow up, they become our volunteers and eventually take on roles as our Program Leaders." Courtney Fedrau, Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre Supervisor.
Media contact:
Gerry Murphy, Director of Community Services
Town of Westlock
780-349-4444
Courtney Fedrau, Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre Supervisor
Town of Westlock
780-349-6654
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March 2, 2023 Municipal Development Plan Refresh
News Release
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2023
Town of Westlock Municipal Development Plan Refresh
Westlock, AB – The Town of Westlock is pleased to announce its Municipal Development Plan (MDP) Refresh. This project will help us discover what’s next for Westlock and its next 20 years. This project will be completed by in-house staff and will offer multiple opportunities for engagement and collaboration with Town residents, businesses, and stakeholders.
The MDP is the Town’s long-range planning document that sets the vision for the Town and guides its development over the next 20 years. The plan helps Council make decisions on future projects and investment for key issues such as housing and asset management. Every municipality in Alberta is required to adopt an MDP under the Municipal Government Act.
The MDP was adopted in 2015. Since that date, the Town has undergone changes in its demographics and economic position – it is important that the MDP reflects the changing needs of the community in order to maintain a high quality of life for current and future residents. This refresh of the MDP will also allow the Town to utilize recent plans and studies as well as reflect key trends and best practices.
“The MDP is the cornerstone for future community development, and this project will allow us to create a framework that is made by Westlock, for Westlock,” says Krystle Fedoretz, Director of Development Services, “Over the course of this project, we’ll be asking residents, businesses, and stakeholders to participate and share their ideas on what’s next for Westlock.”
To start, we are encouraging anyone interested in this project to check out the project website at www.westlock.ca/p/mdp-refresh and sign up for project updates.
Media contacts:
Krystle Fedoretz, Director of Development Services
Town of Westlock
780-350-2111
Danielle Pougher, Development Officer
Town of Westlock
780-350-2113
February 7, 2023 Westlock & District FCSS Survey
News Release
For Immediate Release
February 7, 2023
Westlock Begins Housing and Service Needs Estimation Survey
Westlock, AB – Westlock and District FCSS has commissioned the Rural Development Network (RDN) to conduct a housing and service needs estimation in Westlock. This project is funded in part through the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home program.
The purpose of the project is threefold:
- Provide a comprehensive picture of housing insecurity and homelessness in Westlock.
- Inform service providers and municipal, provincial, and federal policies, practices, and funding decisions on homelessness, housing, and support services.
- Elevate and incorporate the voices of people experiencing homelessness in the solutions to end homelessness.
Data collected across the community will help us understand the extent of housing and service needs in Westlock and will also inform the development of Westlock's Community Housing Action Plan. The survey will be available online and at participating agencies from February 13 to March 31, 2023. The participating agencies are Westlock Library, Westlock Community Victim Services, Alberta Supports, Westlock County Community Services, Hope Resource Centre, and Youth Unlimited - YFC Westlock, and Healthy Families Healthy Future.
"Given the increasing number of people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness across the country as a result of COVID-19 and rising inflation rates, it is more important than ever to collect accurate data on the state of housing and homelessness in rural communities such as Westlock, to provide an accurate picture of current need and build a plan to address housing and service needs moving forward." Emma Wallace, Project Manager of Community Development and Homelessness Estimations at RDN.
Media contact:
Tracy Proulx, Executive Director
Westlock & District FCSS
780-349-5900
Emma Langevin, Program Coordinator
Westlock & District FCSS
780-349-5900