BOWDEN ñ Council has ratified this year's operating budget for the town.
As mandated by the province, it's a balanced budget, with total revenues and expenditures coming in at $2.53 million.
Last year, the town anticipated a surplus of $2,850 with expenses totalling $2.44 million.
Chief administrative officer James Mason says last year, the town was short-staffed, which saved money, but manpower is up again, which, he notes, results in greater expenditures but enables staff to get more done.
Mason says other examples of greater revenues than expected include the grant the municipality receives from Red Deer County.
Recreation revenues rose, too. Mason notes there was an uptake in the number of people/teams booking the Igloo in the summer.
Franchise fees ñ the fee the municipality charges for a company to be the exclusive supplier of things like gas or electricity in the town -- were higher than expected by almost $10,000.
Recycling revenues also rose slightly.
On the other hand, sanitary sewer and water revenues were a little lower than budgeted.
Council went through the town's operating budget line by line during a special meeting May 15.
Basically, they approved the budget as presented.
Mayor Robb Stuart noted the town plans to spend $15,000 on building maintenance at the Igloo this year, up from the $9,906 spent last year.
Mason said plans call for flooring at the players' bench to be repaired and some roof repairs are planned as well.
ìI'd rather see it high because last year we budgeted $8,000; we spent (nearly) $10,000. So it's better to overestimate,î Stuart said.
At the suggestion of Coun. Sandy Gamble, expenses on candy for the annual parade were bumped up by $500 to a total of $2,500.
ìCandy's gone up significantly,î Stuart said.
Mason says that change didn't affect overall spending in the budget because money for more candy was taken out of the economic development budget.
"It's better to overestimate." ROBB STUART MAYOR TOWN OF BOWDEN
