Vauxhall approves budgets

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Vauxhall Advance

By Nikki Jamieson
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During their regular April 22 meeting, Vauxhall town council reviewed their interim operating and capital budget.

In the three-year operating budget, town CFO Clark Holt reported little changes to it compared to the other times council has reviewed it, with the exception of notes and updates from town staff that were built into the budget.

“But at some point, we’ve got to pass the thing, and understand that life happens, a change may occur, but I think we’re pretty good right here,” said Holt, noting that it does tie into the tax rate bylaw.

In total, the operating budget for 2025 contains $3,353,424 worth of expenditure and revenues, including:

• $1,378,451 of revenue for property taxes

• $399,268 of revenue in operating grant

• $234,013 of expenses in public safety services

• $1,541,736 of expenses in operational services

In the capital budget for 2025, several projects budgeted for 2025, for a total of $4,514,986.

The first was for the Ice Rink upgrade projects, for a total of $2,341,478. Holt noted that the figure did not include the cost of seating upgrades. The seating upgrades, if approved, would see fold-out chairs put in over board seating at a cost of an estimatated$80,000. However, because the ceiling upgrades are an estimated $80,000 as well, if council performed to do the seating rather than the ceiling, they could just swap the two out. When asked if seating can wait, CAO Cris Burns said it could, noting that while the project is slated to be completed by beginning of September, they wouldn’t be able to get in and install the new seating while the contractors are in there completing other work. Holt said that they keep council updated on that, and if there is room in the budget they could look at adding it later.

The Baseball Academy Building project, for a total of $200,000, will be funded out of reserves. Mayor Kimberly Cawley asked if it would cover the cost of utility tie-ins, “because otherwise, it’s going to cost us more operational to help them.” Coun. Russel Norris said the $200,000 should include everything the town is contributing. Coun. Kimberly Dorin, who attended the meeting virtually, asked how much it would cost to do the utilities, with Burns saying that a low estimate for the water and storm connections being $5,000, but he wasn’t sure on the power and gas would be, as it would be by the utility company.

Admin Building Upgrades was budgeted for $200,000, funded through reserves, with Holt noting that council “made me move that one” and could was on the same page as that.

Fire Hydrant and Valve Replacements were budgeted for $20,000 and $30,000 respectively.

The Sanitary Outflow project was budgeted for a total of $1,488,508, and was “getting close to done”, according to Holt.

Lastly, a pickup truck for $60,000, and a gravel truck for $175,000, both of which were purchased already.

Holt noted that “there’s a not a ton we can add or take away from here,” but wanted to make sure council was comfortable before approving it. One thing he did not was that for next year’s budget, he had increased the total budget for servicing new lots up to $750,000 – $350,00 of which would come from reserves – and should council approve that figure, a lot more discussion would need to take place, but at least there was money allocated towards it.

Council passed motions to approve to 2025-27 operating budget and the 2025-2029 capital spending plan. Coun. Shelley Deleeuw was not in attendance to the meeting.