Mountain View County council last week adopted an $18.5-million interim operating and capital budget for 2012.Councillors decided to go forward with an interim budget at the previous Wednesday's policies and priorities committee meeting after they came up $1.4 million short of a balanced budget following a series of special P&P budget meetings during the fall. The 2012 budget will be passed in the spring after final assessment numbers are known.Div. 1 Coun. Kevin Good voted against the interim budget, as he had the previous Wednesday at P&P, arguing that the county's expenditures should not be dictated by its income.ìTo wait for our final numbers on linear assessment Ö to me gives the impression we're gonna spend everything we get in,î he said. ìTo me that's what's wrong with the North American economy and European economy. I'm supporting a more fiscally conservative approach.îDeputy reeve Trish McKean said she didn't disagree with what Good was saying, ìbut we have to pass an interim budget by Dec. 31,î she added.ìI understand that,î Good said. ìI think we should be passing it based on need and expense.îìUnfortunately we're not at that point yet,î McKean (Div. 2) responded.Div. 6 Coun. Paddy Munro said he also agreed with Good in principle. But the budgeting process had been going on reasonably well, he said, ìand I'm not going to rush it.îThe interim budget passed with only Good opposed.Projects approved under the interim budget for 2012 include:ï Twp. Rd. 334 basing and chipsealing between range roads 20 and 23 (completion) ñ $1.5 million.ï Burnt Timber Road paving ñ $900,000 (county's portion).ï Big Prairie Bridge replacement ñ $800,000 (county's portion).ï Rge. Rd. 12 reconstruction north of Highway 27 (first phase) ñ $800,000.ï Carstairs shop environmental remediation phase 2 ñ $330,000.ï Rge. Rd. 12 subdivision road reconstruction and chipsealing ñ $300,000.ï Shelly Kohut gravel pit reclamation ñ $250,000.ï Rge. Rd. 281 grade raise (carry-over project) ñ $250,000.ï Fallen Timber gravel pit reclamation and revegetation of Shelly pit and Bearberry No. 3 pit ñ $210,000.ï Sundre shop environmental remediation ñ $156,500.ï Rge. Rd. 30 mill and prep between county boundary and Twp. Rd. 292 ñ $150,000.ï Acme Road land deals ñ $75,000.Equipment replacement purchases for 2012 total $1.1 million with two Caterpillar graders listed as the costliest items at $350,000 each.
