The town had a $411,000 budget surplus in 2013 and it's now being targeted for five priority projects.
“We usually have a surplus. We always have a contingency. If we don't use all that contingency there is a surplus,” said Heather Whymark, the town's director of corporate services. “This year there was more revenues in there and we had some less expenses that we had not budgeted for. So what you want that to do is to go back into your infrastructure.”
At council's regular meeting on March 24, she said administration is proposing that five projects be considered for completion this year that could be funded by the surplus monies.
Whymark said it was her opinion that a facility lifestyle assessment on all town structures, including the arena, the pool and municipal buildings, was the highest priority. The assessment would include architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural and program evaluations, and would provide baseline information required to properly ensure the longevity of the town's facilities.
“That gives us our projection of where we need to go and how to get there,” said Whymark.
The other four projects include installation of precast concrete washrooms at Centennial Park, a spray park recirculation system, a turf sweeper budget adjustment and replacement of the existing town office phone system.
Whymark said no budgets have been set for any of the five project proposals. She said each of them will have to be brought back to council for approval.
“Council may choose not to go through with it,” said Whymark. “What happens with the surplus at the end of the year is that it always gets thrown into reserves, and if they then approve these projects that come forward we will then take it from reserves and put it back into the project.
“It has to go somewhere,” she added. “If they choose not to use it then it just stays in reserves.”
