Morinville, AB – Morinville Town Council approved the 2022 Interim budget at the December 13, 2021 Regular Meeting of Council.
At the December 6, 2021, Regular Meeting of Council, Council directed Administration to bring forward an interim 2022 Operating Budget to authorize necessary expenditures for the first quarter of 2022 and provide Council additional time to consider the 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets.
The purpose of an interim operating budget is to facilitate Council approval of necessary expenditures to continue the day-to-day operations of the municipality until such time that Council approves a 2022 Operating and Capital Budget. The Municipal Government Act requires municipalities to have in place a Council-approved budget no later than January 1 of each year to authorize expenditures undertaken by Administration to provide municipal services. Interim budgets are for operational items only as legislation does not provide the authority to implement an interim capital budget. Also excluded from the interim budget are municipal revenues as legislation does not allow the establishment of municipal tax rates on the basis of an interim budget, nor does an interim budget impact bylaws currently in place for the collections of fees, rates and charges in the municipality.
A factor of 20% was chosen to reflect the first quarter of 2022 and provide approval of expenses to carry the organization to March 31, 2022. Approval of the 2022 Operating and Capital Budget by March 31, 2022, is required to ensure sufficient time for the development of the 2022 Tax Rate Bylaw and distribution of the associated tax notices.
“One of the most important policy decisions that Council makes each year is debating and approving the annual operating budget and capital plan. In view of the recent municipal election and the resulting orientation of our new Council, we felt it was prudent to pass an interim budget and take the additional time necessary for Council to work collaboratively with Administration to prepare a budget that reflects the community and supports the service levels we set for our Town,” says Mayor Simon Boersma. “I look forward to the new year when we will begin to determine service levels and other ways to adjust the budget”.
The interim budget documents can be found at: Morinville.ca/budget