Sylvan Lake Town Council has approved the draft 2018 budgets for public distribution as they now seek some feedback on their financial plans.

They're proposing a combined 1.97% municipal tax rate increase for residential and non-residential properties according to Communications Officer Joanne Gaudet.

“That is less than what we had previously identified.  Last year when we were looking at our 3 year financial plan we were preparing for a 2.96% residential rate increase.  So acknowledging that the economy still hasn’t made too much of a recovery at least in the central Alberta area we looked at optional cuts and we were able to scale that back a bit more”.

In terms of spending, Gaudet says this budget focuses on core infrastructure and sustainability.

“A new reservoir and pump station, water main replacement program, some street rehabilitation, residents will be interested to know we are doing some redevelopment around the Highway 20 and Erickson Drive intersection as well as on 50th Avenue between 33rd and 50th Street.

Work on the Sustainable Waterfront Area Redevelopment Study will also be a key focus; it will be a project that involves a lot of resident feedback, working to determine a vision for the waterfront including the old water slide park.

On the operating side, Gaudet says they’ll be working on their Stormwater Masterplan, and a really big project coming up with their lagoon release which is an annual project at this point until Sylvan Lake connects to the regional wastewater system.

You have an opportunity to learn more about the 2018 draft budgets at a public open house December 12th at the NexSource Centre from 4:30 to 7 pm.