It'll be a 6.7% decrease in spending for the Town of Altona in 2025/26. Council has approved its latest budget, ringing in at $11.1 million, for the year.
According to Mayor Harv Schroeder, a big difference is not having a $1 million road renewal project on the books for 2025.
Overall operating expenses are down 6.7% with fluctuations throughout the various budget lines.
For example, there is an increase in General Government services, which is primarily due to consultant fees and studies. This, explained Schroeder, is part of Council's strategic focus on making data-driven decisions. Transportation Services (Public Works) is also seeing an increase due to the addition of two more Public Works staff, a decision that was made following an operational review in 2024 that showed a few extra hands would help improve efficiency and effectiveness.
There is, however, a decrease under Fiscal Services because of less contributions to the capital budget this year. Part of that, as mentioned earlier, is because the million-dollar road renewal project came off the books.
The capital budget for 2025 is $2.4 million dollars with only one larger-scale road project slated. Schroeder says the concrete portion of 14th Ave NE will be patched up and ground down.
"To stop the bouncing of the heavy load-semis that go down there to Bunge," he explained. "That is the biggest road project. There will still be areas that Public Works goes around and patches, but that is the main one at this point."
As well, the Town's purchase of the old Altona Greenhouse property will show up in the capital budget this year, along with its first contribution in a 10-year commitment to the Pembina Valley Water Co-op's infrastructure plan. Also on the list is a new fire truck, the cost of which is being split with the Municipality of Rhineland, a new police truck and a tractor for Public Works.
There are, however, some projects that did not make it into the 2025 budget.
That includes a perpetual care plan for the aging cemetery located at the intersection of 4th Ave. NE and 6th St. NE, the renovation of the former library space in the Golden West Plaza and, of course, what to do with the Van Gogh painting that was, until recently, only in need of restoration but has not reached the end of its lifespan after sustaining heavy wind damage.
"We would like to keep the level of service that our rate payers expect and require, while keeping taxes as low as possible, being good stewards of what we have but also able to put a bit of money away for the unexpected things that come up," said Schroeder.
Speaking of taxes, the Town will be collecting 3.89% more through its municipal tax levy this year, despite a 7.6% decrease in the mill rate. How that will impact individual property owners will depend on the change in assessment value of their property. Overall assessments in the community went up an average of 15% this year.
You can view the public budget presentation here.