HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-06 2023 Budget Narrative (Final)2023 FINAL BUDGETCOUNTY OF NEWELL
COUNTY OF NEWELL, ALBERTA, CANADA
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
GFOA Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation 3
Community Profile 5 Organization Profile 6 Vision, Mission & Guiding Principles 7
Strategic Priorities & Strategies 7 Budget Policy and Principles 7 Accounting Practices 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Budget Planning Priorities and Issues 11
Budget Highlights 12
Revenues 13
Expenditures 15
Staffing Summary 19
Tangible Capital Assets Summary 20
Debt Summary 21
Restricted Surplus Summary 22
BUDGET BY FUNCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 24
General Government 25
Legislative 26
Administration 29
Corporate Safety 34
Police Services 37
Fire & Emergency Services 38
Bylaw Enforcement 42
Fleet Services 44
Roads, Streets, Walks & Lighting 46
Airport 51
Water 52
Wastewater 55
Waste Management 57
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) 58
Planning & Development 59
Agricultural Services 62
Community Services 66 Economic Development 68 Recreation 69
Parks & Programs 70 Library & Culture 72
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................................. 73
Appendix I – 2023 Tangible Capital Asset Budget Items 74
Appendix II – Financial Plan (MGA 283.1) 78
Appendix III – 10 Year Capital Plan (MGA 283.1) 79
Appendix IV – Strategic Priorities 80
Appendix V – Glossary 81
Appendix VI – Acronyms 83
Produced by the Finance Department in cooperation with all County departments. The County of Newell 2023 Budget is available
online at www.countyofnewell.ab.ca.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 2
INTRODUCTION
GFOA Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented a Distinguished
Budget Presentation Award to the County of Newell for the Annual Budget beginning January 1, 2022. In order to
receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.
This award is valid for a period of one year only. We believe our current budget continues to conform to program
requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another award.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 3
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 4
Community Profile
Population (2021): 7,465 Decrease in population (from 2016): 0.8% Median Age: 39
Unemployment rate (2021): 8.6% Median Household Income (2020): $92,000 Number of Farms: 727
The County of Newell is a rural municipality located
central to Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge with
less than 190 kilometers of separation between each
city. The County is a growing transportation hub with
the TransCanada Highway #1 and Highway #36
intersecting within our boundaries. CPKC Rail’s
mainline runs through the County, on its track from
Montreal to Vancouver. Our geographical position
provides ease of access to the oil sands to the north and the United States to the south, creating an ideal
trade location for businesses.
The population of the Newell region, inclusive of our
urban counterparts, is over 25,000. The largest urban
communities in the region are the City of Brooks and
the Town of Bassano. The County has positive
working relationships with our urban neighbors,
which improves the quality of services provided to all
of our residents.
The County is home to the Eastern Irrigation District
(EID) which provides an extensive water supply,
storage, and drainage network throughout the region. Water diverted from the Bow River at the
Bassano Dam provides for irrigated agriculture,
industrial, household and livestock use, as well as
many recreational opportunities and enhanced
environmental conditions.
The County has a dynamic and diverse economy
historically driven by three pillars: Agriculture; Oil and
Gas; and Tourism. There are approximately 500
primary agricultural producers in the County, and
approximately 1,500 non-agricultural business
enterprises within the footprint of the Newell area.
The region boasts extraordinary crop quality with
over 300,000 acres of irrigated farmland, 600,000
acres of cultivated dry land farming and 600,000 acres
of native and improved rangeland. The region is home
to some of the most profitable farmers in Alberta.
The County has one of Alberta’s most active natural
gas fields. There are roughly 20,400 wells in the
County, which accounts for half of all gas wells in
Alberta, and 9% of all gas wells in Alberta. The state
of the North American natural gas industry, combined
with the advanced age of many of the gas wells in the
County, has resulted in reduced economic activity
within the region and a reduction in assessment
values and related tax revenues.
A fourth sector, utility scale renewable energy
facilities, is beginning to emerge within the County
with solar projects at varying stages that range from
application submitted through to fully constructed
operational facilities.
Key tourism anchors include Lake Newell - one of
Canada's largest man-made lakes, Dinosaur Provincial
Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and recreation
activity as diverse as golfing, boating, camping,
fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching.
Top 10 Taxpayers:
1 – Torxen Energy Ltd.
2 – Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
3 – Nova Gas Transmission Ltd.
4 – ATCO Electric Ltd.
5 – JBS Food Canada ULC.
6 – Cardinal Energy Ltd.
7 – Altalink Management Ltd.
8 – Cor4 Oil Corp.
9 – Foothills Pipelines Ltd.
10 – Inter Pipeline Ltd.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 5
Organization Profile
County Council
The Council of the County of Newell represents the citizens of the County and provides leadership as the legislative
and policy-making body for the organization. Council is comprised of 10 Councillors who are elected for a four-year
term. The office of Reeve is elected from within Council during the annual Organizational Meeting.
Reeve: Arno Doerksen (Division 9)
Deputy Reeve: Kelly Christman (Division 6)
Councillors: Dan Short (Division 1) Greg Skriver (Division 5)
Adena Skanderup (Division 2) Ellen Unruh (Division 7)
Lynette Kopp (Division 3) Amanda Philpott (Division 8)
Holly Johnson (Division 4) Neil Johnson (Division 10)
Management Team
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) leads a management team responsible for providing recommendations to
Council and coordinating the day-to-day operations of staff. The management team also provides vision and
leadership in the annual development and implementation of Council initiatives. The management team consists of
the positions illustrated below.
Electorate
Council
Chief Adminstra�ve Officer
Execu�ve Assistant Director of Corporate Services
Manager of Corporate Safety Services
Newell Regional Fire Chief
Director of Municipal Services
Manager of Opera�ons
Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering Services
Director of Agricultural Services
Manager of Agricultural Services
Director of Informa�on & Technology
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 6
Vision, Mission & Guiding Principles
Vision
To encourage and support sustainable growth and quality of life.
Mission
The County of Newell, through leadership and policy, provides services, structure and stability.
Guiding Principles
1. Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
2. Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
3. Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
4. Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
5. Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
6. Preserving land for agricultural use
7. Promoting open communication between staff, Council and the public
Strategic Priorities & Strategies
Corporate Strategic Priorities (see Appendix IV) are established by Council and Administration, with reference to the
County’s guiding principles, following each municipal election. These priorities are summarized and tracked through
the Corporate Strategic Priorities Chart which is reviewed during regular Council meetings monthly and updated as
necessary as part of the annual budget process, regular Council meetings or quarterly Committee of the Whole
meetings.
Budget Policy and Principles
Budget Process
On an annual basis, Council considers a proposed operating budget and a ten-year capital forecast and adopts the
operating and capital budgets for the coming year. The budget process involves Council, department heads, staff,
and the public, and considers current economic conditions, Provincial Government policy changes and service needs
within the County. Strategic priorities (Appendix IV), as set by Council and management, directly influence the
budget process. In December, Council approves an interim budget which is in effect for part of the coming year. The
final budget is typically approved early in April after final assessment and requisition amounts are known.
July 5, 2022 Council direction provided at budget planning meeting
September 30, 2022 Deadline for departmental budget submissions to Finance for review
October 31, 2022 Draft budget issued for Council review
November 14, 2022 Council review of interim budget with Senior Management
December 8, 2022 Council approval of interim budget
February 28, 2023 Property assessment is finalized
April 6, 2023 Council approval of final budget
After the budget is adopted by Council, expenditures are controlled against budget by formal purchasing policies and financial systems designed specifically to prevent budget overruns. If Council approves additional expenditures
during the year the additional spending becomes an approved budget variance.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 7
Balanced Budget
In accordance with the Municipal Government Act, the County is required to have a balanced budget. Expenditures
may not exceed the total of revenues, transfers from restricted surplus, and proceeds from debt.
Financial performance is monitored through budget variance analysis at the functional level, which is available to
management on a daily basis, as well as financial information packages which are provided to Council on a quarterly
basis.
Policies
The County has policies in place which work together to provide for the long-term financial stability of the County.
These policies govern expenditures, investments, tangible capital assets, restricted surplus funds and the collection
of revenues. Hyperlinks to these policies are included below.
Purchasing Policy
The County ensures that consistent procedures are followed for purchases through Purchasing Policy 2018-PAD-051
which sets expenditure limits for the County. The policy ensures that items purchased have been approved through
the budget process or by separate resolution of Council.
Investment Policy
The County’s savings are invested in accordance with Investment Policy 2021-PAD-032. The objectives of this policy
include, the preservation of capital, maintenance of liquidity, and the realization of a competitive rate of return.
Municipal investments are governed by restrictive legislation under the Municipal Government Act. The County’s
investment policy meets all of these requirements.
Tangible Capital Assets Policy
Tangible capital assets are defined as assets having a useful life that extends beyond one fiscal year, are used on a
continual basis, are not for resale in the ordinary course of operations and are held for use in the production or
supply of County goods and services. The County’s Tangible Capital Assets Policy POL-002-22 follows Public Sector
Accounting Standards when accounting for and reporting tangible capital assets in its financial statements.
Restricted Surplus Policy The County has established specific restricted surplus funds, through Restricted Surplus Policy POL-014-23 to provide
for emergent financial needs, stabilize tax rates, set aside funds for the replacement of vehicles, machinery,
equipment, infrastructure and facilities, and to minimize its financing needs. Maintaining financial health and
stability is the guiding principle behind this policy.
Collection of Overdue Receivables Policy
The Collection of Overdue Receivables Policy 2021-PAD-019 is designed to ensure the timely collection of the
County’s revenues which is critical to ensuring expenditure obligations for providing services can be met.
Accounting Practices
The accounting practices of the County conform to Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for local
governments and the Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting in
accordance with Canadian Public-Sector Accounting Standards.
The accrual basis of accounting records revenue as it is earned and measurable. Expenses are recognized as they
are incurred and measurable based upon receipt of goods or services and/or the legal obligation to pay. The current
year budget has been prepared on this basis.
Funds from external parties and earnings thereon restricted by agreement or legislation are accounted for as
deferred revenue until used for the purpose specified.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 8
The County reports based on one main operating fund. Revenues and expenses are shown on a segmented basis,
based upon functional services provided by the County, in Schedule 1 of the annual audited financial statements.
Capital transactions are shown in the Statement of Cash Flows with supporting schedules that provide detail for the
capital transactions. Tangible capital assets are recorded at cost which includes all amounts that are directly
attributable to acquisition, construction, development, or betterment of the asset. The cost, less residual value, of
the tangible capital assets is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the tangible capital
assets.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 9
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Municipal Government Act requires Council to adopt a budget for each calendar year. This document provides
the supporting information for the 2023 Final Budget, which was approved by Council on April 6, 2023.
Municipal governments are required by law to have balanced budgets. Current revenue, including transfers from
restricted surplus and proceeds from debt, must be sufficient to support current expenditures. The 2023 Final
Budget includes a net transfer of $4.1 million from restricted surplus to balance the budget.
Budget Summary – Expenses by Function
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 10
Budget Summary– Expenses by Object
Budget Planning Priorities and Issues
Service Levels: The 2023 budget places priority on maintaining current service levels for most of the services
provided by the County and appropriate levels of re-investment in the County’s infrastructure. The Coyote Control
Incentive Program, which was suspended in 2021 and 2022 as a cost cutting measure, will return for 2023. Enhancing
communication and community engagement is proposed with the addition of a full-time Communications
Coordinator.
Provincial Policy Changes: Potential policy changes at the Provincial level have been considered throughout the
budget process. In 2020 the Province announced a three-year property tax exemption for new wells and pipelines
to incent new development activity. In past years the County would include a conservative amount of well drilling
tax revenue in its annual budget, this was removed beginning in 2021 inclusive of all forecast years. Although this
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 11
represented a small portion of the overall budgeted revenue, actual well drilling taxes averaged $726 thousand a
year from 2016 to 2020.
The fourth year of the provincial police costing model is included in this budget at $783 thousand, which increases
to an estimated $839 thousand in 2024.
User Pay Philosophy: Utility rates increase by approximately 3% in 2023. This continues the trend of shifting
responsibility for utility system costs to the direct beneficiaries of the systems and away from property taxpayers.
The per trip rider fee for the mini-bus service is proposed to increase in 2023 by $2.00, from $16.00 to $18.00, with
additional increases of $2.00 per year recommended in each of the forecast years.
Budget Highlights
The property tax revenue budget increases by $1.02 million or 3.26%. A discount of 2.5% is being offered to
encourage property owners to pay their taxes by the June 15th deadline and provide a measure of tax relief. This
discount comes at an estimated cost of $806 thousand. Additional tax relief is being provided to small businesses in
the County with the small business tax rate being set at 75% of the non-residential tax rate, the lowest threshold
allowed under the Municipal Government Act. The County offers very competitive tax rates, each of the combined 2023 municipal tax rates is below the 2022 average for all municipal districts in the province.
The 2023 operating expense budget increases by $2.70 million, or 8.85% over the 2022 final budget, inclusive of a
cost-of-living allowance increase of 3% for all staff positions, inflationary increases, and one-time expenses.
The 2023 final budget is expected to provide an annual surplus of $14.4 million. A surplus means revenue exceeds
expenses while a deficit may indicate the County has not lived within its means. Long-term financial sustainability
depends on ensuring that on average, over time, expenses are less than revenues. When a surplus is achieved, the
amount is available for capital expenditures over and above amortization expense. Amortization expense is based
on historic cost and does not reflect the increased cost of future asset replacements. Taking future asset replacement
costs into account in determining the appropriate level of surplus is a critical step toward financial sustainability.
Tangible capital asset expenditures are budgeted at $23.8 million with investments in rural water lines, bridge
replacements, drainage improvements and rehabilitation of gravel roads. Principal repayments of $716 thousand on existing debt will be made. Restricted surplus funds are expected to decrease by $4.10 million.
The long-term financial (2023 to 2026) and capital plans (2023 to 2032) required under the Municipal Government
Act are included as Appendix II and Appendix III respectively.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 12
Revenues
The major categories of the County’s revenues are described below.
Net municipal property taxes include all
property taxes less requisitions of the Alberta
School Foundation Fund and Seniors
Foundation. Property taxes are assessed to
properties within the County based on an
assessment value of the property multiplied by
a mill rate approved by Council. Property taxes
continue to be the most significant source of revenue for the County. Net municipal taxes are
set to increase by 3.26% or $1.02 million in 2023.
Taxes are estimated using actual assessed
values and tax rates which have been approved
by Council.
Special levies include local improvement taxes
and special taxes. These levies will vary
depending on the local improvement projects
being completed in any given year. Special taxes
are levied each year for the raw water systems in Scandia and Rolling Hills, as well as for lots
receiving waterworks from the Eastern
Irrigation District (EID) under both the
Household Purposes and Rural Water Use
Agreements with the EID.
Sales of goods and services includes fees based
on usage. Fees are approved by Council in the
Schedule of Fees Bylaw and are charged for a
variety of goods and services such as water and
wastewater, dust abatement, custom work,
weed control, equipment rental, campground
fees as well as for the provision of contracted
services to other municipalities within the
region. In general, sales of goods and services
are estimated using the approved fee schedule
and a combination of historical trend analysis
adjusted for any variables that may reasonably be expected to increase or decrease revenues in
a service area.
-
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
$35
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Budget $33,147,891 $30,814,808 $30,674,877 $31,213,071 $32,231,728
Actual $29,653,558 $30,819,752 $30,827,137 $31,082,801 -MillionsCOUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 13
Government transfers for operating include
various transfers received from other levels of
government used to support operating
activities. Significant grants expected to be
received in 2023 include $138 thousand
agricultural service board grant and a MSI
operating grant of $139 thousand. In 2019 the
County received grant funding of $3.4 million
related to the Provincial Shallow Gas Tax Relief
Incentive Program.
Government transfers for capital include
various transfers received from other levels of government used to invest in capital projects.
Federal gas tax fund grant funding of $425
thousand is expected to be applied to the
County’s gravel road shoulder pull program.
MSI capital funding of $7.6 million for phase two
of the rural water project has been included in
the budget. $911 thousand remains to be raised
for a pathway to Kinbrook Island Park. Only
those grants which have been approved by
other levels of government, and whose program
requirements the County reasonably expects to
meet, are included in the budget.
Investment income this category includes the
returns earned from the County’s investments.
Investment income is estimated using a
conservative rate of return.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 14
Expenditures
The major categories of the County’s expenditures are described below.
Salaries, wages and benefits include the regular
payments made by the County to its salaried
and hourly employees. This category also
includes the costs of pension, employment
insurance, WCB and insurance premiums for the
various benefit programs provided by the
County. In addition to including a provision for
merit increases, the budget includes cost of living adjustments of 3% in 2023 and 2% for all
other forecast years for both union and non-
union employees.
Contracted and general services include
expenditures made for professional services
such as assessment, legal, audit, engineering as
well as general services such as training,
insurance, phone and advertising.
Materials, goods, supplies and utilities includes
expenditures for a variety of items such as fuel
and oil, gravel, salt and sand, chemicals, parts, IT
hardware, office supplies and gas, water, and
electric utility charges.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 15
Transfers to organizations include transfers
made to recreation boards, urban fire
departments, library board, other local
municipal governments and to the Province for
the County’s share of police costs under the new
police costing model.
Interest on long-term debt includes required interest payments on outstanding long-term
debt.
Other expenditures include a provision for bad
debts on property taxes, a 2.5% discount for
taxes paid by the June 15th deadline which has
an estimated cost of $806 thousand, and other
items not included in any of the expense
categories described above. In 2020 an 8%
discount on taxes was offered at a cost of $1.8
million, and adjustments to the allowance for
doubtful property taxes receivable totalled $537
thousand.
-
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Budget $300,226 $209,613 $141,266 $119,469 $221,726
Actual $295,746 $206,179 $138,334 $67,284Thousands
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 16
Amortization includes the estimated reduction
in the value of the County’s tangible capital
assets for the year. A portion of the annual
amortization charge is funded from property
taxes and allocated to various restricted surplus
funds each year as outlined in the County’s
restricted surplus policy.
Acquisition of tangible capital assets includes
expenditures on non-financial assets such as
roads, sewers, water systems, buildings,
vehicles, machinery and equipment.
Net debt proceeds (repayment) this category
includes new debt issues offset by required
debenture principal payments.
($6)
($5)
($4)
($3)
($2)
($1)
-
$1
$2
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Budget ($5,233,925)($3,651,629)($332,573)$130,072 ($716,288)
Actual ($5,233,923)($3,651,630)($2,482,572)$707,229Millions
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 17
Net transfers to (from) restricted surplus
include transfers to/from restricted surplus
funds which are intended for funding a variety
of different items which are detailed in the
County’s restricted surplus policy.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 18
Staffing Summary
The budget includes a net overall increase of 1.61 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Changes for 2023 include
the addition of a Communications Coordinator, a Regional Fire Chief, which was previously a contracted service, and
the removal of the Manager of Finance position due to restructuring finance department roles and responsibilities
in 2022. Detailed personnel lists and changes from the prior year budget are included as part of each department’s
budget detail.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 19
Tangible Capital Assets Summary
Tangible capital asset (TCA) acquisitions of $23.8 million are summarized below and detailed in Appendix I. TCA are
non-financial assets that have a useful life that extends beyond one fiscal year, are used on a continual basis, are not
for resale in the ordinary course of operations and are held for use in the production or supply of goods and services. The County’s 10-year capital plan is included in Appendix III.
TCA acquisitions are funded from a combination of grants, proceeds on disposal, local improvement taxes, restricted
surplus funds and general tax revenues. Existing vehicles, machinery and equipment are replaced at the end of their
useful lives as needed and are funded from the vehicles, machinery and equipment restricted surplus fund. New vehicles, machinery and equipment are typically funded from general tax revenues.
IMPACT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ON OPERATING BUDGET
The completion of the new Patricia Fire Hall will result in a minor overall increase in utilities, supplies and maintenance costs. New paved pathways are expected to increase annual operating costs by approximately $2,000
per km. Replacement of existing vehicles, machinery and equipment are expected to provide savings in the short-
term through increased fuel efficiency and reductions in repairs and maintenance expenses. The completion of
phase two of the rural water project will increase contracted services and water purchase costs which will be offset
by the related water user fee revenue. No additional personnel are required to support the ongoing operations
related to 2023 capital investments.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Alberta Municipal Affairs has defined benchmarks that measure a municipality’s management of its TCA. The
expectation is for average capital
additions to exceed the average
amortization, as measured by the
Infrastructure Investment – Asset
Sustainability Ratio, and that the net
book value of TCA is greater than 40 per
cent of the original cost, as measured by
the Infrastructure Age – Net Book Value
of TCA indicator. The County ended 2022
with an average Net Book Value of TCA across all categories of 75.39% and
capital additions are expected to exceed
the average amortization charge in 2023
and forecast years.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 20
Debt Summary
Debt levels are projected to decrease by $666 thousand to $2.98 million outstanding by the end of 2023. The County
remains below its 2022 debt limit of $59.5 million and debt servicing limit of $9.9 million. The flexibility of the County
to finance future projects through debt is limited by Section 276(2) of the Municipal Government Act which defines the debt and debt limits the County is subject to. Details of current debt as well as the estimated debt and debt
servicing limits are listed below:
The debt limit is calculated at 1.5 times revenue of the County (as defined in Alberta Regulation 255/00) and the
debt service limit is calculated at 0.25 times such revenue. Incurring debt beyond these limitations requires approval
by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Alberta Municipal Affairs has defined benchmarks that measure whether a municipality has maintained a reasonable
level of borrowing debt, as measured by the Debt to Revenue Percentage, and a reasonable level of borrowing
repayment obligations, as measured by the Debt Service to Revenue Percentage. The County ended 2022 with a
Debt to Revenue Percentage of 9.20% and a Debt Service to Revenue Percentage of 2.05%, both of which are well
under the limits set by Municipal Affairs.
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
Interest 147,913 132,037 127,661 145,303 139,197 132,864 126,295 119,478 112,405 105,063
Principal 665,997 106,397 110,773 198,561 204,667 211,000 217,570 224,386 231,460 238,801
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
ThousandsEs�mated Principal and Interest Repayments
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 21
Restricted Surplus Summary
Restricted surplus funds are included as part of the County’s accumulated surplus. Restricted surplus funds are a
critical component of the County’s long-term financing and capital plans. Restricted Surplus Policy POL-014-23
specific restricted surplus funds to provide for emergent financial needs, stabilize tax rates, set aside funds for the
replacement of equipment, machinery, vehicles, infrastructure, and facilities, and minimize the financing needs of
the County.
Restricted surplus funds offer liquidity which enhances the County’s flexibility in addressing operating and capital
requirements. The level of restricted surplus will vary depending on:
• Services provided by the County
• Age and condition of infrastructure, inventory of fleet and vehicles supporting County operations
• Internal debt and restricted surplus policies
• Economic conditions and projections
The County prepares a ten-year restricted surplus projection as part of the annual budget process. This projection
includes the estimated transfers to restricted surplus, guided by the Restricted Surplus Policy, as well as the transfers
from restricted surplus that fund the County’s ten-year capital plan. This projection allows the County to model the
impact of different underlying assumptions for asset replacement costs on its long-term financial position and
informs decisions on an appropriate level of annual surplus to target in the budget. Projected restricted surplus fund
balances and the purpose for each fund are summarized below.
Recreation Fund
Established to build funds for future replacement, or new construction, of recreation facilities within the region of
the County. Vehicles, Machinery & Equipment Fund
Established to provide funds for the scheduled replacement of existing vehicles, machinery, equipment and office
furnishings when they reach the end of their useful lives. Funding is provided through an annual transfer of not less
than 100% of the annual amortization on the County’s vehicles, machinery and equipment classes of tangible capital
assets, in addition to any proceeds from the disposal of these assets.
Fire Apparatus Fund
Established to build funds for future replacement of fire apparatus of the various fire districts within the County.
Funding is provided through an annual transfer based on the fire capital plan as determined in the approved budget.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 22
Facilities Fund
Established to provide funds for the rehabilitation or replacement costs of existing County buildings, recreational
facilities and parks when they reach the end of their useful lives. Funding is provided through an annual transfer of
not less than 50% of the annual amortization on County buildings, recreational facilities and parks.
Infrastructure Fund
Established to fund the rehabilitation or replacement costs of existing County infrastructure, such as roads and
bridges, when it reaches the end of its useful life. Funding is provided through an annual transfer of not less than
50% of the annual amortization on the County’s infrastructure. This fund helps meet the County’s goal of limiting borrowing for replacing existing infrastructure.
Paving Fund
Established to build funds to be used specifically for paving County roads. Funding is provided through a special
paving tax assessed annually at a mill rate of 0.5000 to all applicable properties in the County. These funds must be
used for paving projects as outlined in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) section 386(1).
Future Projects Fund
Established to build funds to support new programs, capital purchases and projects planned to be completed in
future years. These savings are used to help fund expansion with minimal debt financing. Funding is provided
through an annual transfer as determined in the approved budget.
Regional Enhancement Fund
To extend the regional collaboration philosophy of the Regional Enhancement & Cooperation agreement and build
funds to support capital projects that have a regional benefit, on a cost-shared basis, with the other municipalities
within the County.
Stabilization Fund
Established to provide for unanticipated expenditures of a non-recurring nature and/or meet unexpected increases
in costs. This fund is to be maintained with a minimum balance that does not fall below 10% of the current year
operating budget expenses and is funded through an annual transfer as determined in the approved budget.
Tilley Fund
This fund accommodates Order in Council 250/2013 which dissolved the Village of Tilley and requires the County to
use the money received from the Village on its dissolution, and any money received from the sale of any assets of
the Village sold by the County before December 31, 2018 only for the purposes of paying or reducing a liability of
the former Village, or for projects in the former area of the Village. The balance of this fund is expected to be used
in 2023 to fund the old Tilley landfill reclamation project.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 23
BUDGET BY FUNCTION
The County divides its operations by the various functions which provide services throughout the County. The
budgets by function that follow provide:
• A summary of the services and programs provided by each function
• Key accomplishments of the current year
• Key priorities for the coming budget year
• Statistics and performance measures
• Authorized staffing list
The County continues to develop its inventory of statistics and performance measures showing the quantity (volume
of effort), quality (efficiency and satisfaction), and result (outcome) of the services it provides. The statistics and
performance measures included in the budget document are intended to demonstrate a commitment to, and
accountability for, results. Targets and baselines have been added to provide the reader with some context around
each of the measures. Targets are typically preceded by a less than (<), greater than (>), or equal to symbol (=).
Baselines simply provide the average result for the number of years the measure is reported.
The bottom line for each function, Net funding/(draw), indicates the amount of property tax revenue needed to fund
the services provided by each function.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 24
General Government
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Net municipal taxes and investment income are accounted for under the General Government function. This includes
gross taxes received on all assessment types reduced by requisitions for the public and separate schools, designated
industrial property and the Newell Housing Foundation.
Taxable assessment values in the County increased by $230 million from the prior year. This assessment growth
allowed tax rate decreases for residential properties of 3.8%, for non-residential properties of 1.9% and for small
business properties of 1.7%. Tax rates for farmland properties increase by 10.7% as the tax burden of funding
Agricultural Services is shifted to these properties until the rate is at least equivalent to the non-residential rate.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Alberta Municipal Affairs has defined benchmarks that measure whether a municipality is able to rely in some measure on its non-residential tax base to generate a portion of its tax revenues, as measured by the Tax Base Ratio,
and whether it is able to collect its tax revenues and use those funds to meet budgeted commitments and
requisitioning obligations, as measured by the Tax Collection Rate.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 25
Legislative
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
GOVERNANCE
The Legislative function provides for the costs of operating Council and a variety of committees. The County is divided into 10 electoral divisions which are represented by one elected Councillor that resides within the Division.
Councillors serve for a period of four years between elections. Council is responsible for setting direction,
establishing organizational priorities, approving policies and allocating resources through the annual budget.
The title for the Chief Elected Official for the County is “Reeve”. The Reeve, and Deputy Reeve, are elected by Council
following an election and on an annual basis thereafter at the organizational meeting. Appointments to a variety of
boards ands committees also occurs during the organizational meeting. By virtue of their election as a Councillor,
each member of Council serves as a Fire Guardian and is a Commissioner for Oaths.
Attendance at Council meetings is required unless otherwise excused. Councillors must vote on all matters being
considered unless they have a clear conflict of interest on a matter being dealt with. Regular meetings of Council
are held twice a month with the schedule subject to ratification by Council during the annual organizational meeting.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Successfully advocated for the re-brand of regional economic development to include Newell
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Strategic Planning Session with Council and Executive Leadership Team facilitated by Dr. Gordon McIntosh
• Established a Committee of the Whole to enhance Council information gathering and decision-making
• Initiated advocacy efforts for the Crop Diversification Centre South with the Minister of Agriculture
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Meet with the Board of Directors of the Eastern Irrigation District on items of shared interest
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Advocate with the Province for a sunset clause to be added to conservation easement agreements
• Continue advocacy efforts for the Crop Diversification Centre South, replacement of Bassano Health
Centre and Seniors Housing, irrigation expansion, and construction of SAEWA’s Energy from Waste
Facility.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Initiate a review to redistribute population across electoral divisions
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 26
LEGISLATIVE STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 27
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 28
Administration
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Administration is comprised of the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO’s) office, the Executive, Finance, and
Information & Technology departments.
The CAO’s OFFICE is Council’s direct link to administration. The CAO is responsible for co-ordinating Council meeting
agendas, providing recommendations on matters that Council direction is required on, assisting Council in the
Strategic Planning process, initiating actions necessary for the implementation of strategic priorities that have been
set by Council, and other corporate initiatives such as service delivery assessment and service standards.
The EXECUTIVE is the official secretariat for Council and its committees. The division is responsible for corporate
administration; processing, coordinating, and managing Council and Committee business; conducting elections and
referenda; managing the information and privacy program; and managing the corporate records program.
FINANCE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS The Finance Department is responsible for the overall management of the financial affairs of the County including:
• Budgeting, accounting, audit and financial reporting;
• Cash management of approximately $110 million dollars in investments is provided to maximize returns.
• Accounts payable processing;
• Payroll coordinates the production of three different payroll groups paid on a bi-weekly basis which includes
full time and part time staff and also maintains benefits records for over 100 individuals.
• Property assessment and tax collection. Assessment services determine property values for residential,
farmland, commercial and industrial properties, and co-ordinates receiving values from the province for
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 29
linear properties. Property values are determined on an annual basis and each residential property is
specifically reviewed on a five-year rotation.
• Managing an insurance program that sustains the County’s ability to deliver services to the community.
• Managing debt – long-term debenture financing is typically coordinated with the Government of Alberta
under the Local Authorities Capital Financing Act.
• Managing grants – researching available grants/funding, working with other departments within the
organization to coordinate eligible projects and submitting annual expenditure reports
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Develop/implement an appropriate long-term cost benefit analysis that could be applied to major
projects being considered at the municipal level or proposed private sector projects that may require a
level of municipal support or approval – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Ensure that steps are taken to keep completed asset management plans current and used as a guide during future capital budget processes – ONGOING
• Ensure staff are fully trained in the use of all finance system apps and reporting functions that have the potential to enhance the efficient delivery of services provided – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council and the public.
• Investigate and pursue meaningful opportunities to invite feedback on the annual budget and increasing
the degree of transparency on reporting the status of year end finances – ONGOING
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Enhance the HR function with priority being placed on expanding and enhancing recruitment and
onboarding efforts to ensure success in attracting and retaining qualified staff.
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Collaborate with the Planning and Development to enhance the upfront collection of building permit fees
to reduce the number of uncollectible accounts.
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure.
• Assist Department Heads in applying accounting industry standards for the County’s assets, including
provisions for their replacement at the end of their useful life.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Seeking out opportunities to apply LEAN techniques that have been acquired through the training
provided, into their individual areas of responsibility.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Assist the Communications Coordinator to promote transparency and accountability of County finances.
FINANCE STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 30
INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY (IT) DEPARTMENT
Department Mission Statement: The IT department empowers the organization to securely meet their corporate
strategic priorities, technical objectives, and business requirements by applying the core values of discipline,
integrity, discernment, professionalism, accountability, reliability, innovation, and teamwork.
IT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
APPLICATION ADMINISTRATION
Software and applications are a critical part of day-to-day operations, and IT ensures that software is operating
optimally. Software is used on workstations, servers, email, and network switches. IT investigates product issues,
completes system upgrades and maintains the databases of the County’s core applications which include:
• Dynamics GP/Diamond – financial system
• Pearl/WorkTech – work orders, assets, job and equipment costing system
• ESRI – GIS system
• Laserfiche – electronic document and records management system
• Microsoft Office
BACKUP ADMINISTRATION
Data backup mechanisms help safeguard the information assets of the County, prevent the loss of data in case of
accidental deletion or corruption of data, system failure, or disaster, and permit timely restoration of information
and business processes, should such events occur. Three backups are maintained, an on-site backup of production
data, an off-site backup for Disaster Recovery, and a cloud off-site backup of critical systems. In addition, the
County’s IT department is responsible to ensure that hosted applications have adequate backups on their hosted
site.
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
The IT department is responsible for cell phones, conference room electronics, PCs/laptops, desktop phones,
printers, tablets, vehicle electronics, GPS units and device disposal. This includes, but is not limited to, evaluating
the ability of devices to meet business requirements and the purchasing, maintenance, and asset management of
listed devices.
GIS PROGRAM
GIS provides graphic and visual representations of events, assets and work accomplishments. GIS links with other
systems which allows data from different applications to be viewed and reported with the visual.
The County participated with ninety other municipalities from across Canada, the US and Australia in 2020 Public
Sector Digest’s GIS Maturity Index survey. The County’s program ranked as the top performer among organizations
of similar size, fourth in the province of Alberta, and tenth overall.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 31
NETWORK ADMINISTRATION
Network administration is vital to keeping data secure. This includes administration of a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ),
Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Access Points (WAP), and network monitoring.
Significant investments in hardware, software, and IT staff training are made to ensure the data is secure.
IT HELP DESK
The IT Help Desk was established to provide improved customer service and to assist in managing IT staff workloads.
The IT Help Desk is administered by the IT Administrative Assistant who is the first point of contact for all IT related
service requests. Reports are sent monthly to department heads outlining the number of service requests closed in
the period and itemizes any service requests outstanding. Progress is reviewed at each department meeting and
individual team member performance is reviewed monthly.
SERVER ADMINISTRATION
Server Administration involves keeping both physical servers and virtual machines updated, proactively monitoring
server performance, and managing licenses, warranties, and change. This contributes to the secure delivery of IT
services and assists in meeting the service level expectations of the organization and ratepayers.
REGIONAL IT
IT offers its services to other municipalities in the region. Regional IT services are currently provided to the Town of
Bassano, including provision of asset replacement schedules and budget estimates. Administration, research,
development and visit prep time are not billed. The cost of these services is recovered through a fee charged for on-
site visits and travel time.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION Community engagement and communication has been a corporate strategic priority for several years. The County
has worked towards improving methods of community engagement by investing in applications and service capacity
that interact with and serve the community.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT The IT department has implemented and tailored industry standard methodologies and tools to assist the
department to meet organizational objectives. Effective project management is critical for ensuring that the end
results meet expectations. Developing formal project execution processes is a critical component for all size projects
resulting in successful projects that deliver greater value to the organization.
A formal project management approach to departmental operations, which engages the team in project management exercises and processes, facilitates governance over operations and systems that provides the path to
a “big picture” view of the organization.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 32
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• IT Asset Management Plan Review and Improvement Action Planning
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Firewall Replacement
• High-Definition Imagery – Hamlets
• 360 Camera
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Review and update IT Policies
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council and the public
• Communication Strategy Review
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• IT Asset Management Improvement Action Plan
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient
• Microsoft Server Data Centre Upgrade
• Network Replacement
• Review and Update IT Policies
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council and the public
• Communication Strategy Review
• Replace Video Conferencing Equipment in Council Chambers
ADMINISTRATION STAFFING
Administration staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
ADMINISTRATION STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 33
Corporate Safety
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Corporate Safety Services is responsible for the County’s Health and Safety Management System. The department’s
primary function is to help ensure that safety directives and safe-work behaviours meet the County’s intent to
provide a safe, healthy, and supportive workplace for everyone. The department works to ensure that the System
conforms to Occupational Health and Safety Legislation and that industry best practices are considered during
program development and operational activities.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Develop Laserfiche forms to eliminate the need for document scanning, entering metadata, formatting files,
and triggering the auto-file process – IN PROGRESS/ONGOING
• Conduct an internal audit of the Health and Safety Management System in 2022 in accordance with the
Partnerships in Injury Reduction Certificate of Recognition program guidelines – COMPLETE
• Assist with the process of moving historical health and safety training records into the electronic document
record management system – COMPLETE
• Deliver training relative to the County’s health and safety programs and codes of practice to affected staff
– COMPLETE
• Conduct an in-person and interactive Annual Health and Safety Day for County staff – COMPLETE
2023 KEY PRIORITIES:
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Records & Information Management of Corporate Safety documents o Review, revise and update the Record Series
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 34
o Complete records inventory forms o Make digital records the official records o Destroy paper and digital records that have met their retention requirements o Create a document hierarchy tree for use in a cloud-based platform setting o Move all working documents to a shared cloud-based platform (County only)
• Ongoing development of Laserfiche forms to eliminate the need for document scanning, entering
metadata, formatting files, and triggering the auto-file process
• Review and update all Health and Safety Management System elements to ensure they are current;
• Organize and host the Annual Health and Safety Meeting to promote safety culture and cooperation
• External audit of the Health and Safety Management System to maintain the County’s certificate of
recognition (COR)
DISABILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
The Disability Management System helps control the risks and costs of workplace injury and illness by encouraging
injury prevention through pre-employment screening and promoting early and safe return-to-work where injury or
illness occurs. The department coordinates injury recording and reporting and helps manage any medical directives
issued by health care providers and the Worker’s Compensation Board. Recovery and rehabilitation of an injured
employee may require modified work accommodation prior to a return to their regular duties. In these situations,
Corporate Safety, the employee, and the employee’s Supervisor collaborate to establish a modified work plan.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Finalize the transfer of all paper WCB claim files (historical, inactive and active) to Laserfiche – COMPLETE
• Move to electronic injury reporting for all incident and injury reports that must be reported to the Workers’
Compensation Board – COMPLETE
• Continued focus on health and safety protection and promotion efforts – ONGOING
• Ongoing pandemic mitigation and response as/if warranted – COMPLETE
• Acquire approval for proposed Psychological Health & Safety Management Program, followed by
implementation and orientation of staff – ONGOING
• Deliver Violence & Harassment Program training to staff – COMPLETE
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Continued focus on physical and mental well-being to protect employees, mitigate safety risks, promote
employee satisfaction and ensure the attraction and retention of motivated and productive people
• Assess the digital WCB claim files in Laserfiche to verify that autoflow filed as intended, appropriate
document naming conventions were utilized and all historical and inactive claims are accounted for
• Revisit the draft Psychological Health & Safety Management Program and implement based on available
resources and organizational readiness
CORPORATE SAFETY STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 35
CORPORATE SAFETY STAFFING
Corporate Safety staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
CORPORATE SAFETY STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 36
Police Services
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
The Government of Alberta implemented a new police costing model for municipalities that previously received
policing from the RCMP under the Provincial Police Services Agreement (PPSA). This new model was implemented
on April 1, 2020 and contributes to a portion of the combined provincial and federal costs of front-line policing under
the PPSA. The overall amount collected under the model increases each year, from 10% in year one, 15% in year
two, 20% in year three, to 30% in years four and five.
Each municipality’s cost requirement is based on a formula that weighs equalized assessment at 50% and population
at 50%, and includes modifiers related to shadow populations, crime severity, proximity to detachment, and existing
enhanced policing positions. The original estimated costs for the County under this new model are as follows:
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
214,547 393,568 536,446 787,136 858,805
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 37
Fire & Emergency Services
FIRE SERVICES
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED Fire and Emergency Services coordinates fire prevention and suppression, volunteer firefighter education,
development of emergency management plans, and adherence to the County`s quality management plan through
inspections, investigations, and disaster management. Assistance is provided to local fire chiefs and municipalities
within the County which provides residents and businesses with effective and affordable service levels.
FIRE PREVENTION
Fire prevention begins with education. A fire prevention week campaign is held annually in October which provides
educational materials to each fire hall which are distributed at local events and during school visits. These events
are an important part of spreading the fire safety message.
Fire permits and fire bans are used to restrict activities that have the potential to create fire issues. Fire permits alert
fire departments to the locations and fuel sources of controlled fires which enhances fire safety in the County.
FIRE SUPPRESSION
Well trained fire suppression crews are equipped with modern equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
to provide a coordinated fire response throughout the County. Training sessions are provided through in-house practices and National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) training. The County is committed to providing quality
training, modern equipment, and the PPE necessary to ensure the safety of the volunteer firefighters who are the
backbone of this service.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 38
Approximately 173 dedicated volunteer firefighters support the ten fire halls which respond to all types of fires,
motor vehicle collisions, water rescue, hazardous material responses, alarm calls, and medical co-response.
Volunteers provide a valuable service and a significant cost savings over paid full-time firefighters.
FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES PARTNERSHIPS
Fire and Emergency Services are provided through ten fire halls located throughout the County inclusive of our urban
counterparts. Agreements for the shared provision of Fire and Emergency Services are in place with the City of
Brooks, Town of Bassano and Villages of Rosemary and Duchess
The County funds ninety percent of annual operating expenditures and one hundred percent of all wheeled equipment and fire apparatus that require a Provincial license and registration of the fire departments under
agreements with the Town of Bassano and the Villages of Rosemary and Duchess. Oversight for the operations of
the fire departments under these agreements is provided by a local Fire and Emergency Services Committee
consisting of two Council members appointed from each municipality.
The City of Brooks has been contracted to provide fire suppression and emergency response services for persons
and property within the County’s Fire Divisions 5 and 10 which surround the City of Brooks. Costs of the fire service
are shared under this agreement in proportion with the average percentage of call volumes generated by the County
over the five-year period immediately preceding a given fiscal year (34.0% in 2022; 31.6% in 2021).
Mutual Aid agreements are also in place with other neighboring municipalities that provide backup assistance for
incidents when required.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Update the long-term capital apparatus replacement plan, including minimum equipment standards and
developing clear guidance for Fire Departments regarding the transition of apparatus between
departments. – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Initiate discussions with stakeholders in Division 4 regarding long term plans for upgrading the Fire Hall
facility. – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council and the public
• Prepare a community engagement initiative regarding future options for Fire Hall facilities within the Bow
Slope area. – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Engage with partner municipalities and residents on potential to implement a cost recovery fee for fire
suppression services provided.
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Undertake a capital facilities and apparatus needs assessment which will consider a plan for rotation of
apparatus throughout County departments over the life of the assets.
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Complete construction of Patricia Fire Hall and transfer fire department operations into the new facility.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Complete Fire Underwriters Survey for each service area, including urban centers, and develop an action
plan for affordable updates that may enhance property insurance ratings in the region.
• Standardize small tools and equipment that is deployed on board with major apparatus and plan bulk
purchasing opportunities to reduce per unit cost of PPE.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 39
• Increase awareness of initiatives such as fire safety inspections in public facilities, the requirement to obtain fire permits for control burns, and proactive fire smart approaches that residents could apply daily.
FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFFING
Fire and Emergency Services staffing levels increase by 1.00 FTE in 2023 with the addition of the Regional Fire Chief
position which was previously a service provided to the County under contract with the City of Brooks.
FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 40
DISASTER & EMERGENCY SERVICES
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
It is important to have properly equipped and trained professionals ready to respond when an emergency occurs.
The County, Town of Bassano and the Villages of Duchess and Rosemary have established a regional emergency
response partnership with formal authority for managing disaster responses within the four municipalities. The local Emergency/Disaster Plan is a mandatory part of the larger Provincial and Federal Government plans.
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Complete and receive approval of a Regional Emergency Response Plan
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Ensure that elected officials and support staff that may be involved in managing disaster events have
been formally trained for their respective roles.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Conduct a tabletop training exercise for a mock disaster event.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 41
Bylaw Enforcement
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
ENFORCEMENT
The Municipal Enforcement Department conducts inspections and responds to complaints throughout the region.
The department educates people for purposes of complying with local bylaws and provincial legislation and
regulations. Monthly educational and enforcement priorities follow the Alberta Traffic Safety Plan.
MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIPS
The department has partnered with the Villages of Duchess and Rosemary, Town of Bassano, and the Eastern Irrigation District (EID) on a cost recovery basis. Activities performed for these partners include education and
enforcement of local bylaws and provincial legislation and regulations.
JOINT OPERATIONS
The department works closely with Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officers, Alberta Environment and Parks, City of Brooks
Community Peace Officers (CPO), the local Brooks and Bassano RCMP, and local fire departments. The Municipal
Enforcement Supervisor participates by submitting monthly reports to the Safe Communities Committee, attends
the Rural Crime Watch, and other community-based activities.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Municipal Enforcement responds to emergencies when called upon. This may include responding to motor vehicle
collisions, grass fires, flood response and evacuations. The role of Officers in these situations is to provide traffic
control, however they may be called in for other purposes where other emergency services may not be available.
The Supervisor also acts as the County’s Deputy Disaster Services Coordinator.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 42
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Maintained and strengthened Municipal Partnerships – COMPLETE
• Maintained and strengthened relationships with like Enforcement Agencies (RCMP, Fish & Wildlife,
Conservation Officers, etc.) – COMPLETE
• Attend three community events (bike rodeo (x3) and boating safety) – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Update five bylaws – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Update six Municipal Enforcement policies – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Conducted foot and bicycle patrols to improve communication with the public by making officers more
approachable – COMPLETE
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Maintain and strengthen Municipal Partnerships.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with like Enforcement Agencies (RCMP, Fish & Wildlife, Conservation
Officers, etc.).
• Attend three community events (e.g., bike rodeo, rodeos, social events)
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Review and update five bylaws
• Review and update six Municipal Enforcement policies
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Conduct foot and bicycle patrols to improve communication with the public by making officers more
approachable.
BYLAW ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
BYLAW ENFORCEMENT STAFFING
Bylaw Enforcement staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
BYLAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 43
Fleet Services
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
Fleet Services provides preventative maintenance and repair services to fleet, machinery, and equipment. Servicing
and repairs may be contracted out when service capacity is not available, or the expertise of the manufacturer is
required.
VEHICLE INSPECTIONS
Fleet Services is a licenced vehicle inspection facility and is responsible for maintaining all commercial vehicle files,
conducting commercial vehicle inspections (CVIP’s), including administering all warranties and recalls. Preventative
maintenance of all fleet, machinery, and equipment is key in keeping them operational while maintaining low cost
of ownership.
FABRICATION
Fabrication services are provided where necessary. This may include the fabricating of racking systems and/or
attachments for field use where engineering is not required. Where engineering is required, fabrication work is
outsourced.
INVENTORY
Fleet Services manages parts room and yard inventories for items such as filters, lubricants, and other consumables.
Effective inventory management ensures regular inventory turnover to prevent accumulation of obsolete parts,
ensuring space is available for required stock. Inventory control ensures inventory costs are maintained and assists
in determining and maintaining adequate levels of stock.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Review purchasing practices and ensure compliance with Purchasing Policy – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Reviewed and reduced inventory levels in a move towards best practices of “Just-In-Time” and “Just-In-
Case.” – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 44
• Asset Management Plan – Fleet & Equipment – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Continue to seek opportunities with students interested in automotive and heavy-duty mechanic trades –
ONGOING
• Seek opportunities for longer or better performing lubricants in all vehicles, machinery, and equipment –
ONGOING
• Maintained vehicle inspection facility license in good standing – COMPLETE
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Establish a Fleet Services Stakeholder Committee to improve understanding of customer needs and
expectations – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Review purchasing practices and ensure compliance with Purchasing Policy.
• Further investigate and apply best practices towards “Just-In-Time” and “Just-In-Case” inventory
management.
• Research innovative opportunities to increase Fleet Services efficiency.
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Asset Management Plan – Fleet & Equipment – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Continue to seek opportunities with students interested in automotive and heavy-duty mechanic trades.
• Seek opportunities for longer or better performing lubricants in all vehicles, machinery, and equipment.
• Maintain vehicle inspection facility license in good standing.
• Develop Mission, Vision, and Purpose statements and complete a departmental SWOT analysis.
• Organize shop workspace to optimize equipment servicing and repairs Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Establish a Fleet Services Stakeholder Committee to improve understanding of customer needs and
expectations.
FLEET SERVICES STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
FLEET SERVICES STAFFING
Fleet Services staffing levels increase by 0.20 FTE in 2023. The Fleet Services Supervisor position was eliminated in
2022 and supervisory duties have been assigned to the Manager of Operations position which is now allocated 20
percent to Fleet Services.
FLEET SERVICES STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 45
Roads, Streets, Walks & Lighting
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
GRAVEL ROADS
Approximately 1,450 kilometers of gravel roads are maintained through regular grading in summer and snow
removal in winter. Approximately 40,000 cubic meters of aggregates are distributed across approximately 25% of
gravel roads annually. Dust abatement services are available at a subsidized rate under residential and non-
residential programs.
PAVED ROADS
Approximately 234 kilometers of paved roads are maintained with crack sealing, line painting and pothole repairs in
the spring/summer. Snow and ice control services are provided in winter.
Gravel road surfaces are upgraded to a paved surface based on the Council approved Paving Plan. Paved roads
typically require a pavement overlay once every 20 years to maintain a defect free surface and preserve the original
investment. Monitoring is ongoing, and paved roads are upgraded when the existing surface or structure shows signs
of fatigue that cannot be remedied through regular preventative maintenance activities.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 46
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 47
ROAD SIGNS
Approximately 1,000 regulatory signs, 2,500 warning signs and 1,300 information signs are maintained on roads
throughout the County. Road signs communicate the rules of the road and enhance the safety of drivers. Temporary
signage is erected as warning devices to drivers where road maintenance and repair work is in progress.
PERMITS & APPROVALS
Over-dimensional and overweight loads, road approaches, seismic, texas gates, facility crossings, are all matters
covered under permits and approvals. RoaData Services has been contracted to administer over-dimensional and
overweight loads as required by Alberta Transportation in the TRAVIS MJ permitting system.
Permit approvals and the associated inspections are completed by the County’s Approvals Officer. These include
facility crossings, road approaches, Texas gates, seismic and locating water lines including a contract with NRSC to
locate their facilities. Inspection services for road approaches of new subdivisions and developments are also
provided.
BRIDGES
There are 149 bridges within the County. Of these, 117 are bridge sized culverts, 30 are standard bridges, and 2 are
major bridges. Provincially mandated bridge inspections are completed annually to assess the condition of the
County’s bridges and prioritize preventative maintenance, repairs, and replacements.
DRAINAGE
Approximately 3,400 kilometers of roadside drainage is maintained as needed by removing silt, controlling
vegetative growth, and repairing culverts. Additionally, the County and Eastern Irrigation District (EID) have a
continuing partnership to improve drainage throughout the region.
BRUSH CONTROL
Tree cutting and brush removal is typically completed in winter months in areas where driver visibility is reduced,
regular operations are adversely affected, and where snow drifting is problematic.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Emergency response support is provided as directed by the Fire & Emergency Department. Signage and flag persons
are provided to control drivers and keep the public safe. Labour and equipment may be provided to make fire
guards, supply water, douse burnt areas to prevent re-ignition of combustibles, and provide flood response.
RAILWAY CROSSINGS
There are 23 road crossings of Canadian Pacific Railways in the County that are maintained in compliance with
Transport Canada Rail Crossing Guidelines for public safety.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Maintained and strengthened Eastern Irrigation District / County of Newell Partnership on Drainage to
reduce known overland flooding impacting private dwellings, structures, and land – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Review Paving Plan with Council for direction and priority setting – COMPLETE
• Review EID/County Partnership on Drainage Plan with Council for direction and priority setting – CARRIED
FORWARD TO 2023
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Design, tender and build the Pathway to TR182 from County Administration Office – COMPLETE
• Design, tender and build the Pathway to from TR182 to Kinbrook Island – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Asset Management Plans – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan for Paved Roads,
Gravel Roads, Bridges, Fleet, Machinery and Equipment. – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 48
• Review Policies to ensure services provided are fair, consistent with needs, and in an efficient manner – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Update six policies – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies – ONGOING
• Grader operator training to maintain better quality roads and reduce hourly costs – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Maintain system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of
improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy – ONGOING
• Asset Management Plans – Identify opportunities to engage Council and the public to understand customer
service level expectations, then incorporate expectations into the necessary Asset Management Plan(s) –
CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Maintain and strengthen Eastern Irrigation District / County of Newell Partnership on Drainage to reduce
known overland flooding impacting private dwellings, structures, and land
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Review EID/County Partnership on Drainage Plan with Council for direction and priority setting.
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Design, tender and build the Pathway to from TR182 to Kinbrook Island.
• Asset Management Plans – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan for Paved Roads,
Gravel Roads, Bridges, Fleet, Machinery and Equipment.
• Continue investing in gravel road infrastructure improvements.
• Continue investing in paved road infrastructure ensuring the network is maintained as per best practices.
• Complete Rural Road Study to update road condition and identify next 10 years construction priorities.
• Complete gravel resource exploration project and secure resources identified.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Review Policies to ensure services provided are fair, consistent with needs, and in an efficient manner.
• Review and update six policies.
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies.
• Continue Grader Operator training to maintain better quality roads and reduce hourly costs.
• Develop an Operational Manual for Municipal Services.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Maintain a system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of
improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy.
• Asset Management Plans – Identify opportunities to engage Council and the public to understand customer
service level expectations, then incorporate expectations into the necessary Asset Management Plan(s).
MUNICIPAL SERVICES STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 49
MUNICIPAL SERVICES STAFFING
Municipal Services staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 50
Airport
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
BROOKS REGIONAL AIRPORT (CYBP)
The Brooks Regional Airport is owned 50/50 by the County and the City of Brooks. The airport serves the City of
Brooks and the County of Newell for agricultural applications, flight training and air charter needs. Airport operations
are managed by the City of Brooks, however, the County assists when requested, typically for removing snow from
runways, taxi ways, and hanger areas, or other specialized services.
The airport features one 980-meter (3,216 feet) asphalt runway and one 881-meter (2,889 feet) gravel runway. An
AvGas fuel system is available for airport users to purchase fuel. The self-serve fuel system currently has AvGas
(100LL) fuel only and accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. In addition, an area navigation system (RNAV)
is in place to assist pilots with local navigation.
BASSANO AIRPORT (CEN2)
The Bassano Airport is owned and operated by the Town of Bassano with operating costs shared 50/50 by the Town
and the County under an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework agreement. The airport services the Town of
Bassano and the County of Newell for agricultural applications, flight training, and air charter needs. The airport has
an asphalt runway which is 899 meters (2,950 feet) in length. All developed lots have been sold and the Town of
Bassano is considering the development of additional hangar lots in 2023.
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality, and
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Jet fuel system to be installed at Brooks Regional Airport.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 51
Water
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Newell Regional Services Corporation (NRSC) has been contracted to manage, operate, and maintain all aspects of
the County’s treated water distribution and facilities. NRSC supplies treated water to hamlets and rural users through
the regional water pipeline. Water quality is managed by NRSC in accordance with standards set by Alberta
Environment. In addition, the Provincial Laboratory of Public Heath performs microbiological testing of drinking water samples taken by NRSC as required.
Water rates are proposed to increase annually by approximately 3% to reduce the subsidy required from general
property tax revenues to operate the systems.
HAMLET WATER SYSTEMS
Water utility operating costs are recovered in part through a two-part water rate consisting of a fixed charge and a
volumetric charge. The fixed portion of the user rate is used to recover customer related costs for metering, billing,
and collecting, as well as other fixed costs of the system. The volumetric charge is based on user’s actual water usage
and covers the cost of the treated water and a portion of other variable costs of the system.
RURAL WATER SYSTEM
The rural water system is supplied by NRSC’s regional water pipeline and supplies customers with up to 300 gallons
(1.36 cubic metres) of potable water per day. Of the 1,568 registered rural water users 1,238 or 79%, are active.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 52
WATER SYSTEM MONITORING
The County analyzes the consumption trends of users within each hamlet and rural water systems compared to the
volume of water supplied. A loss rate between 0-8% is within normal operating standards, loss rates between 9-20%
requires a decision on whether further investigation is warranted and loss rates greater than 20% should be
investigated with a water audit, appropriate intervention, and evaluation of intervention efforts.
WATER BUDGET BY SYSTEM LOCATION
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
o Asset Management Plan – Water – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan –OUTSTANDING
•Investigate water loss rate in Hamlets and seek to resolve to acceptable standards – OUTSTANDING
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
•Install Water Sample Stations in Hamlets as recommended by Alberta Environment
o One in Hamlet of Rolling Hills, Two in Hamlet of Patricia – OUTSTANDING
•Execute Preventative Maintenance Program (Flushing, Valve and Curb Stop Exercising, and Water Quality
Sampling & Testing) as planned to ensure systems are compliant with Alberta Environment and Parks –
COMPLETE
•Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduceinconsistencies – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
•Maintain a system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of
improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy – ONGOING
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 53
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Maintain and strengthen NRSC / County of Newell Partnership to provide potable water service to
customers.
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Construct Rural Water Phase II – Contract 1
• Design, tender and build Rural Water Phase II – Contracts 2 & 3
• Asset Management Plan – Water – Invest in completing tasks listed on the Improvement Plan
• Investigate water loss rate in Hamlets and seek to resolve to acceptable standards
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Maintain and strengthen relationship with NRSC to provide potable water service to customers.
• Install water sample stations in Hamlets as recommended by Alberta Environment
o One in Rolling Hills, two in Patricia, one in Rainier and three in Scandia.
• Execute Preventative Maintenance Program (Flushing, Valve and Curb Stop Exercising, and Water Quality
Sampling & Testing) to ensure systems are compliant with Alberta Environment.
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Maintain system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of
improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy.
WATER UTILITY STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 54
Wastewater
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Newell Regional Services Corporation (NRSC) has been contracted to manage, operate, and maintain all aspects of
the County’s wastewater collection facilities and wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater quality is managed by
NRSC in accordance with standards set by Alberta Environment.
HAMLET WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
Wastewater utility operating costs are recovered through a fixed charge. The fixed charge is used to recover customer related costs such as billing and collecting as well as other fixed costs of the system. Wastewater rates are
proposed to increase by 3% to reduce the subsidy required from general property tax revenues to operate the
systems.
The County analyzes the volume of wastewater pumped and treated of users within each hamlet. Above Canadian
average generated wastewater (calculated on Canadian household average wastewater statistics) warrant
investigation for infiltration and/or illegal household foundation drain connections. County staff work with NRSC
where excessive wastewater volumes are identified.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Invest in completing tasks listed on the Wastewater Asset Management Improvement Plan – OUTSTANDING
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Execute Preventative Maintenance Program (CCTV Inspection, Mainline Flushing, and Effluent Discharge) as planned to ensure to ensure systems are compliant with Alberta Environment and Parks – COMPLETE
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce inconsistencies – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 55
• Maintained a system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy – ONGOING
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Condition assessment and planning for replacement of components of Lake Newell Resort Lift Station
• Invest in completing tasks listed on the Wastewater Asset Management Improvement Plan
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Execute Preventative Maintenance Program (CCTV Inspection, Mainline Flushing, and Effluent Discharge)
to ensure systems are compliant with Alberta Environment.
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce inconsistencies.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Maintain a system for tracking customer services requests (Newell Connect), and review for areas of
improvement where similar issues and reports warrant alternative solutions to remedy.
WASTEWATER BUDGET BY SYSTEM LOCATION
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 56
Waste Management
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
WASTE MANAGEMENT The County is a regional partner in the Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (NRSWMA) which owns
and operates the Newell Regional Landfill. NRSWMA also owns and operates six waste transfer stations which accept
smaller loads of solid waste. Financial support is provided to NRSWMA through an annual per capita contribution
funded from municipal property taxes.
County residents and businesses are responsible for properly disposing of their waste at the regional landfill or the
nearest transfer station. Recycling options are available in each hamlet and at NRSWMA transfer stations.
NRSWMA is a member of the Southern Alberta Waste to Energy Association (SAEWA). That organization is exploring
the potential development of a facility which would process solid waste from several municipalities across southern
Alberta to generate energy for purchase and use within nearby facilities or for export to the electrical grid. Pursuing
the development of this project will be a priority for the County and the NRSWMA moving forward.
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
The County provides solid waste collection services in the Hamlet of Tilley only through a contracted service provider.
The Hamlet of Tilley residents and businesses cover 100% of the cost of this service.
LANDFILL RECLAMATION
Reclamation of the Tilley landfill is the only project left; work began in 2021 and is expected to be complete in 2023.
For more information regarding the Newell Regional Landfill go to www.newellwastemanagement.com.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 57
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Grasslands Regional FCSS has been in operation since September 2004 and is an Intermunicipal organization that
has four partners including the Villages of Rosemary, and Duchess, the County of Newell, and the City of Brooks. Board members from each municipality ensure that FCSS programs are carried out in accordance with the Family
and Community Support Services Act and Regulation. Base funding for FCSS is cost-shared 80% Provincial and 20%
Municipal.
FCSS designs and delivers preventative social service programs that promote and enhance the well-being of
individuals, families and communities and build capacity to prevent or deal with crisis situations should they arise.
For additional details please visit Grasslands Regional FCSS website at www.grasslandsregionalfcss.com.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 58
Planning & Development
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED The Planning and Development department assists and directs landowners with subdivision and development, as
regulated under the Municipal Government Act, the Subdivision and Development Regulations, the County’s Land
Use Bylaw, and associated statutory plans. Standards and regulations are in place to control development and
protect the interests of the County and its ratepayers. The department deals with development and construction
permits, land use amendments, subdivision applications, road allowance closures, and other matters that relate to
land development.
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
One of the primary functions of the department is to process, issue, and manage Development Permits.
Development permits are categorized into three types: residential, non-residential, and home occupation permits.
Residential permits include dwellings (stick-built, moved-in or manufactured), additions and accessory buildings
(sheds, garages, out-buildings). Non-Residential permits apply to commercial and industrial development, including
new buildings, additions and accessory buildings associated with that development. Home occupation permits apply
to landowners operating a business from their dwelling.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
These permits apply to all aspects of construction and include building, electrical, gas, plumbing and private sewage
disposal systems. The County is accredited to issue construction permits under Alberta Safety Codes. Accreditation
and the ability to issue permits internally help ensure developers are obtaining necessary permits, and it provides a
local point of contact for those applying. Park Enterprises Ltd. is currently contracted to provide inspection services, plan reviews, and assist with the permitting process.
SUBDIVISION
A subdivision is the act of dividing a single parcel of land into two or more parcels, each to be given its own separate
title. Subdivision rules are legislated by the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and the Subdivision and Development
Regulation. The County’s Subdivision and Land Use bylaw provides subdivision policy for the land use districts within
the County. Land that is proposed for subdivision requires review and approval from the Municipal Planning
Commission (MPC) before a title for the new parcel(s) may be registered at Land Titles Office.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 59
LAND USE AMENDMENTS
A Land Use Bylaw Amendment (rezoning) is required to change the land use district of a parcel of land. This allows
for different uses to be developed on the property. The rezoning process includes a public hearing and three readings
of an amended Land Use Bylaw by Council.
AREA STRUCTURE PLANS
Area Structure Plans (ASP) and Area Redevelopment Plans (ARP) are statutory documents that are adopted by bylaw
and provide a framework for development on specific areas of land. An ASP describes the sequence of development
on bare land parcels, where there is no or very little existing development. It also outlines the proposed land uses
for the parcel, density of development, transportation routes, public utilities, and any other information relevant to
development of the site. An ARP has the same purpose, except that existing development which is present on the
parcel must be accommodated in the plan.
ROAD RIGHT OF WAY CLOSURE AND LEASE OR SALE
A road allowance is land where a public road could be constructed if the need arose. They are owned by the Province
of Alberta but are under the care and control of the municipality. Planning and Development administers the process
to close undeveloped road allowances. The most common reason to close a road allowance is to facilitate agricultural
operations on adjacent lands. The County typically leases a closed road allowance for a period of ten years. In some special circumstances a landowner may request to purchase the closed road allowance. These cases are reviewed
by the department and a recommendation is brought to Council.
A road allowance must be closed through the formal bylaw approval process, while a surveyed road plan can be
closed by resolution. The closure process by bylaw includes a public hearing, three readings of Council and approval
from the Provincial Minister of Transportation. Closure by resolution requires written consent from adjacent
landowners and a Council resolution. Once approved for closure, a sale or lease agreement is finalized with the
applicant.
REAL PROPERTY REPORTS (RPR) AND COMPLIANCE
A compliance letter may be requested by a landowner when a parcel of land is put up for sale. Compliance letters
are not a compulsory service of a municipality but are offered to assist with property transfers. For compliance to
be assessed, a Real Property Report, prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor, must be submitted with the request. All
development on a parcel must comply with the current Land Use Bylaw for a Compliance Certificate to be issued.
INQUIRIES, SERVICE REQUESTS AND ENFORCEMENT Land-related issues involving inquiries, service requests, and enforcement are addressed by the Planning and
Development department. A formal enforcement process is being worked on and implemented that will help ensure
everyone is treated equally.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Continue with Joint Growth Study with City of Brooks, and start working towards a new IDP – ONGOING
• Reach out to partners and jointly prepare new Direct Control Districts for Airports and Shooting Ranges –
ONGOING
• Reach out to neighbors and consider any necessary IDP updates – DEFERRED
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Engage Council, and other stakeholders for a Municipal Development Plan update – ONGOING
• Onboard and mentor Land Use Planning Intern – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies – ONGOING
• Update six policies – CARRIED FORWARD TO 2023
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 60
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Review and update the County’s Intermunicipal Development Plan with the City of Brooks.
• Reach out to partners and jointly prepare new Direct Control Districts for Airports.
• Complete a Joint Use and Planning Agreement with each School Division by June 2023.
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Complete updates to the Municipal Development Plan.
• Continue to mentor Land Use Planning Intern.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Continual updating and refinement of processes and procedures to increase efficiency and reduce
inconsistencies.
• Review and update three policies
• Recruit and onboard a new Administrative Assistant.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFFING
Planning and Development staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 61
Agricultural Services
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
WEED INSPECTION & CONTROL Under the Weed Control Act, Agricultural Services must ensure that noxious weeds do not spread, and that
prohibited noxious weeds are destroyed. The department monitors and controls noxious and prohibited noxious
weeds to preserve a viable agricultural land base. Approximately 550 known weed infestations are recorded,
mapped, and managed in a weed infestation database. Weed Inspectors share best management farming practices
with producers to reduce the impact of weeds.
Considerable time is invested spraying weeds and brush on County property, roads and right of ways. Our program
encourages landowners and leaseholders to reduce the impact of regulated weeds on the lands they manage.
Multiple spray units are maintained however, weed control is more than just spraying, it can also be cultural (practice
changes) or mechanical (mowing, picking, tilling).
Weed inspection and control services are provided to municipalities within the County on a cost recovery basis.
Under the Weed Control Act, Agricultural Services is responsible to inspect private seed cleaning plants. This is done in the fall on all four seed cleaning plants.
PEST CONTROL
Coyotes are regulated under the Agricultural Pests Act. The County provides a financial incentive for hunters to
control coyote populations under the Coyote Control Incentive Program (CCIP) rather than hiring staff. The CCIP program typically runs from December 1st to March 31st.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 62
When coyote incidents occur, Agricultural Services completes an investigation, recommends practice changes to the
landowner, provides education on proper coyote control methods and as a last resort will issue a toxicant to control
these predators.
A coyote survey is completed every year and sent to Regulatory services which is used as a guide to ensure the CCIP
program is not having a detrimental effect on coyote populations.
PEST INSPECTION AND SURVEYS
Monitoring for pests under the Agricultural Pests Act is completed through surveys. Inspections are performed in
response to reports from ratepayers. Surveying assists in determining infestation levels and developing a response.
Surveys are currently completed for fusarium graminearum, bacterial ring rot, clubroot and grasshoppers.
To reduce the risk of contracting or spreading bacterial ring rot and other potato diseases Agricultural Services is
equipped to provide disinfecting services to producers for their potato equipment and storage sheds.
Agricultural Services is responsible for rat control and will investigate all reported rat sightings and if an infestation
is confirmed control measures are put in place to keep Alberta rat free.
Educational materials are provided to ratepayers and industry partners on the damaging effects pests can have on
producers as well as best management practices to mitigate infestations. Communication is key with many emails
being sent to environmental consultants, meetings held as needed and fielding several phone calls on the subject.
RURAL BEAUTIFICATION
The Rural Beautification Award recognizes residents that beautify their yards and improve the image of the County.
An annual tour of nominated properties is the highlight of this program which helps cultivate a positive County image
and provides Agricultural Services with an opportunity to build positive relationships with County residents.
SOIL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Agricultural Services administers the Soil Conservation Act. It is our duty to keep soil in the field where it belongs.
This program has been effective in establishing shelterbelts and encouraging the adoption of zero and minimal till
farming, which has drastically reduced the time commitment required in this area. However, there are still times
that a Notice to Remedy Soil Erosion must be issued.
Various equipment and snow fencing are available to assist producers that may need to provide cover or rectify soil
erosion issues. Seed drills for both conventional and no till farming practices are available for rent.
The shelterbelt tree planting program also supports soil conservation. Shelterbelts limit soil erosion, promote snow
retention, reduce feeding costs for confined feeding operations, provide wildlife habitat and protect livestock from
the wind. Agricultural Services arranges for transportation of trees from the Tree Time website and staff assist with
unloading and sorting the trees. Moving forward Agricultural Services will partner with the Partners in Habitat
Development program to order trees for landowners from Tree Time but the trees will be at the cost of the
individuals doing the planting.
MOWING PROGRAMS
Agricultural Services manages two distinct mowing. The roadside mowing program facilitates proper drainage,
reduces flooding, and promotes road safety by reducing snow drifting and opening sight lines for drivers.
Approximately 6,400 kilometres (one way) of roadside are mowed twice per season with a 15-foot pass, except for
high traffic roads which receive a 25–30-foot pass.
About 1,200 hours of mowing and 200 hours of weed whipping is completed in hamlets, around county facilities and
entrance corridor map signs, subdivisions, airports, for ratepayers (under policy) and in other areas under contract. Currently Agricultural Services does not mow every subdivision due to safety hazards caused by thrown rocks.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 63
ROADSIDE SEEDING
Roadside seeding is completed after construction projects to reduce soil erosion and prevent weed infestations.
Seeding is completed in late fall as resources become available. Fall seeding also prevents the seed from germinating
until spring taking advantage of spring moisture.
ALBERTA CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION CONTRACT (ACA)
The department works with the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) on shelterbelt plantings, reseeding of grass
and is contracted to manage the Aqueduct Trout Pond area, and parking lots at Millicent Buck for Wildlife, Sproule
Property and Interlake. Work at the Aqueduct Trout Pond includes mowing grass, weekly garbage removal, road
maintenance and weed control.
REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Agricultural Services maintains a fleet of vehicles, sprayers, tractors, ride on mowers, roadside mowing units, UTV’s,
livestock equipment, other miscellaneous equipment and fabricates sprayers. The cost of a sprayer built in-house
and the cost of buying a similar model are comparable. However, the knowledge of how the sprayers are designed
is invaluable when it comes to troubleshooting any issues that arise in the field.
OTHER AWARDS Council nominates a farm family for the Calgary Stampede Farm Family awards each year. This program is well
received by the nominees and helps create a positive image for the hard-working farmers of our region. Agricultural
Services also manages the County’s 100-year Farm awards which recognizes farm operations that have been in the
area for 100 years. To date there have been no applications to receive the 100 Year Farm recognition.
FACILITY MAINTENANCE
Agricultural Services oversees the maintenance of all County facilities. Facilities are maintained at an appropriate
level through relationships with contractors, regular maintenance and a dedicated facilities staff member.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Re-sign contract agreements for Urban Municipalities and Grasslands Public School District – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Update County owned land file to be used as a reference tool – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Reduce operating costs/acre maintained – ONGOING
• Better seasonal staff training and increase operating efficiencies – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Improve seasonal staff training and increase operating efficiencies – ONGOING
• Rural Beautification - Increase nominations – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #6 – Preserving land for agricultural use
• Utilize new Soil Conservation Policy to reduce impacts of soil erosion – ONGOING
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Support agricultural education events.
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Reduce operating costs/acre maintained.
• Better seasonal staff training and increase operating efficiencies.
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Improve seasonal staff training and increase operating efficiencies.
• Rural Beautification - Increase nominations.
• Fill vacant Environmental Services Supervisor position.
• Offering CCIP program to decrease coyote population.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 64
Guiding Principle #6 – Preserving land for agricultural use
• Work with producers to limit soil erosion concern.
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Utilize new Soil Conservation Policy to reduce impacts of soil erosion.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES STAFFING
Agricultural Services staff levels increase by 0.61 FTE in 2023 with the addition of two Agricultural Seasonal Labourers
who will provide increased levels of service in the County’s shelterbelt program.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 65
Community Services
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
VICTIMS ASSISTANCE
The Victims Assistance Program is administered by the Brooks & County Victims Services Unit through a partnership
with the RCMP. Victim services operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In conjunction with the RCMP, trained
volunteers will offer immediate short term, confidential assistance for victims of crime and tragedy in the region.
Under this program victims are offered support, information, and referrals to help them cope and empower them
to make decisions that can be complicated and difficult when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
SAFE AND CARING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
The Safe and Caring Communities Program is a partnership administered by the City of Brooks and governed by the
Brooks & Newell Safe Communities Committee. The committee’s mandate is to foster the creation of a safe and
secure community.
MINI BUS SERVICE
The Mini Bus provides transportation service from an individual’s residence to locations within City of Brooks for a
variety of needs. Primary users of the service are seniors and individuals with limited mobility and special
transportation needs. The service operates on a fixed schedule on weekdays, except for statutory holidays when no
service is provided. The bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift, but patrons must be mobile enough to get around
without assistance from the bus driver or be accompanied by an able-bodied person who can assist them.
The service operates a regular schedule which provides rotating coverage throughout the County as shown below.
Monday Tuesday** Wednesday* Thursday Friday
Tilley Scandia Gem/Duchess or Patricia Rolling Hills Bassano
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 66
*Service on Wednesdays alternates between Gem/Duchess and Patricia
** Service is every other Tuesday, with the off Tuesday vacant
The Mini Bus is also available for special community events provided a driver is available. This initiative and others
keep the service visible to patrons and the hope is that these efforts will increase ridership.
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Work with other agencies to create a pool of alternative drivers
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Invest in replacement bus for 2023 to ensure uninterrupted service.
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Increasing the cost per trip user fee
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Work with other agencies to create a pool of alternative drivers
Guiding Principle #7 – Promoting open communication between staff, Council, and the public
• Enhance public awareness of the service through frequent use of available forms of media.
MINI BUS STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFFING
Community Services staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 67
Economic Development
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Economic Development initiatives are overseen by a Joint Services Committee that is comprised of the Chief Elected
Officials of each of the Municipalities in the Region, as well representatives from the Eastern Irrigation District and
Grasslands Regional Schools. The Joint Services Committee has developed a set of Strategic Focus Areas, which
include Business Retention and Expansion, Workforce Development, Marketing, and Tourism. City of Brooks staff
coordinate Brooks Newell Region economic development efforts and implement activities approved in the budget.
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION
Business Retention & Expansion is the process of supporting and nurturing current businesses within the Region.
Since 80% to 90% of economic growth comes from the expansion of existing businesses, the importance of a strong
BR&E program becomes obvious.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Labour force is one of the most important variables in economic development as it forms a basis for economic
development strategy. Recognizing the linkage between labour capacity and economic development, the Region
must work to ensure there is a sufficient workforce to support existing businesses as well as expanding and new
businesses.
MARKETING
Sharing positive messages about the region, its communities, businesses, organizations, and people helps showcase
the region as a great place to live, work, and invest. Continued marketing efforts using diverse and creative methods
in traditional and new media will help the rest of the world recognize the competitive advantages and assets in our
Region.
TOURISM
The Brooks Newell Region is home to some of the most desirable natural and manmade tourist attractions in Alberta
and should be celebrated as a destination of choice.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 68
Recreation
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
Recreation services are provided through various arrangements. They include joint agreements between the County
and the urban communities within, and situations where recreation funds are allocated to various groups or
recreation facilities by a Board whose membership represents recreation service providers within the respective
recreation area.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
•Work with recreation organizations through the process of implementing the recently approved Recreation
Facility Improvement Funding Initiative – ONGOING
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
•Continue to allocate funds to the Recreation restricted surplus fund to ensure funds are available for future
upgrades of recreation facilities in the region – COMPLETE
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
•Continue working with groups and urban communities involved in the provision of recreation services to
improve consistency in which programs and services are funded throughout the County – ONGOING
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 69
Parks & Programs
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
EMERSON BRIDGE PARK CAMPGROUND
Emerson Bridge Park Campground boasts 12 full service sites, 49 - 15/30-amp power stalls, 20 non-power sites and
an overflow area. Many sites are double occupancy allowing campers to be as close to family and friends as possible.
Free showers and flush toilets are available as well as a playground, ball diamond, horseshoe pits, hiking trails, canoe
launch and camp kitchen.
2022 KEY PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guiding Principle #1 – Seeking cooperation with individuals, governments, and organizations
• Finalized construction of new sites
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
• Increased long term site rentals
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure, and
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Researched dog park initiative brought forward from Rolling Hills Community members
• Maintained lands owned by the County in an aesthetically pleasing manner
• Completed monthly playground inspections and make necessary repairs
2023 KEY PRIORITIES
Guiding Principle #2 – Planning for the future growth and development of the municipality
• Bring new full-service sites into use
Guiding Principle #3 – Striving for the long-term financial stability of the municipality
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 70
• Find operating efficiencies to reduce labour costs
• Increase long term site rentals
• Increased occupancy rates
Guiding Principle #4 – Supporting the development and sustainability of a strong infrastructure
• Determine when playground structures should be budgeted for replacement
Guiding Principle #5 – Providing services in a consistent and efficient manner
• Work with Rolling Hills Community members to determine dog park feasibility
• Maintain lands owned by the County in an aesthetically pleasing manner
• Complete monthly playground inspections and make necessary repairs
PARKS AND RECREATION
Agricultural Services oversees some of the maintenance and responsibilities included in Parks and Recreation.
Agricultural Services inspects playground equipment regularly to reduce the risk of safety concerns and replaces
parts as necessary.
In most cases, the recreation facilities throughout the County are owned, operated, and maintained by third parties.
This includes community halls, arenas, curling rinks, etc. For this reason, we have limited involvement in their
operation and maintenance at this time.
PARKS & PROGRAMS STATISTICS & PERFORMANCE MEASURES
PARKS AND RECREATION STAFFING
Parks and Recreation staffing levels are expected to remain consistent with the prior year.
PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF LIST
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 71
Library & Culture
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED
LIBRARY
Library services are provided through the County of Newell Library Board which is a separate corporate entity whose
members are appointed by County Council. The Board consists of ten (10) members (nine members at large and one
member of Council). The Board was created through a bylaw passed by the County of Newell Council in 1977. The
governing legislation that applies to the operation of the Board is the Libraries Act.
The Board is a member of the Shortgrass Regional Library System. Funds generated for library services through the
municipal mill rate are allocated to the Shortgrass Regional Library system and the Board. The Board in turn redirects
the revenue received from the County to the individual library service centers operating within the County.
Those locations include a combination of dedicated municipal library service facilities operating in the City of Brooks,
the Town of Bassano, and the Village of Duchess. Joint service facilities that utilize libraries in several schools
operated by Grasslands Regional Schools are also funded. Those joint use facility locations include the schools in
Rainier, Rolling Hills, and Rosemary. A small standalone library service is also operated by funding through the County
of Newell Library Board in the Hamlet of Gem. The Tilley Library, which also receives funding through the Library
Board, is located within the Tilley Senior Center.
CULTURE
The County has entered into an agreement with the City of Brooks whereby the County provides funding to the City
for culture services provided to County residents. As part of that agreement the City provides County residents with
access to its culture services at the same user rates as City residents. Culture service costs are primarily facility related and include the Community Cultural Centre, Arts & Culture Centre, and the Prairie Pioneers facilities.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 72
APPENDICES
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 73
Division *Job ID Asset Type Project Type Description Justification2023 Budget Grants Proceeds R.SurplusTaxes 12 ‐ ADMINISTRATION1260‐0012 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Smartboard ‐ PortableThe portable smartboard is used by all functions of the organization, in all meeting rooms, training rooms, and lunchrooms. It provides conference room services in any room and is very versatile. The smartboard has reached end‐of‐life and will no longer be supported or updated requiring its replacement in 2023.15,00015,000‐ 12 ‐ ADMINISTRATION1260‐0015 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Video Conferencing Equipment ‐ Council ChambersThe displays and audio system currently in council chambers were put in place at the time the building was built in 2012‐2013. In 2018 the conference equipment was installed which allows conference calling into council chambers and the ability to have remote council meetings and live‐streaming. Feedback has been received that it is often difficult to hear in council chambers and that it is difficult to see the screens. With ongoing live‐streaming, the ability to zoom onto the speaker would provide an enriched end‐user experience. End of life is expected within the next year for the conference equipment making this a good time to consider a complete refresh of council chambers with current technology to meet current needs.150,000150,000‐ 12 ‐ ADMINISTRATIONL1‐0033 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Microsoft Server DataCenter UpdateMicrosoft Server 2012 reaches the end of life in October 2023 and will need to be upgraded before that date to ensure the security of our IT Infrastructure and of continued support.50,00050,000‐ 12 ‐ ADMINISTRATIONL1‐0054 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Network ReplacementThe County's network was replaced in 2014 and is due to be replaced again in 2019. Present condition assessment has allowed it's replacement to be rescheduled in 2021.15,00015,000‐ 12 ‐ ADMINISTRATIONL1‐0057 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement 360 Camera The County has a 360 camera that is used by operations to capture street‐level images of Hamlets and make them available on the County web map. The camera has also provided street‐level images of Emerson Bridge Park made available to the public.6,5006,500‐ 23 ‐ FIRE2340‐0005 ‐ Permanent Structures ‐ FrameNewNew Patricia Fire HallCurrent fire hall is shared with the water plant and houses one fire engine and one rapid response vehicle. There is very little room to safely maneuver around the current building.1,328,0001,328,000‐ 23 ‐ FIREENGINE71 ‐ Fire ApparatusReplacement Replace Engine 71Scheduled replacement based on estimated useful life.600,000600,000‐ 23 ‐ FIREL11‐0011 ‐ Tools & Shop EquipmentNewRescue Ram ‐ Vehicle Extrication EquipmentIn motor vehicle collisions there is a “golden hour”. This is the time from when the accident happens, to the injured people being in the hospital to receive the care needed. Having the extrication equipment would allow the department to be successful in achieving this milestone to give the individual the best possible chance and positive outcome.15,00015,000‐ 23 ‐ FIREL11‐0012 ‐ Tools & Shop EquipmentNewRescue Ram ‐ Vehicle Extrication EquipmentIn motor vehicle collisions there is a “golden hour”. This is the time from when the accident happens, to the injured people being in the hospital to receive the care needed. Having the extrication equipment would allow the department to be successful in achieving this milestone to give the individual the best possible chance and positive outcome.15,00015,000‐ 24 ‐ DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES913‐2023 ‐ 1/2 ton Replacement replaces 910‐2017Scheduled replacement based on estimated useful life65,00065,000‐ 26 ‐ BYLAW ENFORCEMENT L1‐0058 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Electronic Speed SignThe two (2) Lake Newell Resort electronic speed signs have been in place since 2016 (6 years of age), where the community expects the signs to remain permanently. The electronic speed signs monitor speed a) for southbound traffic entering the resort and b) for traffic northbound traffic past the west playground zone.The electronic speed sign located for southbound traffic, entering the community, is frequently in need of repairs. Due to significant downtime and ongoing repair costs the department recommends replacement of the sign.7,0007,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING221‐2023 ‐ Gravel Truck Replacement replace unit 221‐2011 Gravel TruckScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 11 years old with 510,934 kms (pulled 2022‐10‐24).475,620475,620‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING3260‐0006 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance EID Partnership Ongoing commitment to drainage partnership with EID, as per policy 2014‐PPW‐060 ‐ Drainage ‐ County/EID Joint Projects1,000,0001,000,000 Funding SourceAppendix I - 2023 Tangible Capital Asset Budget Items
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 74
Division *Job ID Asset Type Project Type Description Justification2023 Budget Grants Proceeds R.SurplusTaxes Funding Source32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING3260‐0122 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance RR143 from TR192 to TR200 ‐ Road & Drainage Improvements (Shoulder Pull) ‐ 2022 CFWDGravel road reconstruction priorities set by 2012 Gravel Road Study. 551,100 551,100‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING3260‐0129 ‐ Asphalt PathsNew Regional Pathway ‐ fundraising & grants to be raisedProject recommended by the Economic Recovery Task Force Committee and Joint Services Committee. Fundraising and grant funding yet to be secured.2,429,929 1,029,9291,400,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING402‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 203‐2013Scheduled replacement was 2018 based on estimated useful life. 9,980 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08). These units were originally planned for repalcement on a 5 year useful life. Due to economic downturn, reduced return on resales the Department extended the useful life to 10 years (looking for 10,000 hours) where high cost repairs are known to show up. Reliability in these units is key as the Department provides road services all year long and only has one spare grader.520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING403‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 204‐2011Scheduled replacement was 2016 based on estimated useful life. 10,496 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08). These units were originally planned for replacement on a 5 year useful life. Due to economic downturn, reduced return on resales the Department extended the useful life to 10 years (looking for 10,000 hours) where high cost repairs are known to show up. Reliability in these units is key as the Department provides road services all year long and only has one spare grader.520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING404‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 206‐2012Scheduled replacement was 2017 based on estimated useful life. 11,023 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08). These units were originally planned for repalcement on a 5 year useful life. Due to economic downturn, reduced return on resales the Department extended the useful life to 10 years (looking for 10,000 hours) where high cost repairs are known to show up. Reliability in these units is key as the Department provides road services all year long and only has one spare grader.520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING405‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 207‐2011Scheduled replacement was 2016 based on estimated useful life. 8,563 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08).520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING406‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 209‐2012Scheduled replacement was 2017 based on estimated useful life. 10,497 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08). These units were originally planned for replacement on a 5 year useful life. Due to economic downturn, reduced return on resales the Department extended the useful life to 10 years (looking for 10,000 hours) where high cost repairs are known to show up. Reliability in these units is key as the Department provides road services all year long and only has one spare grader.520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING407‐2023 ‐ Graders Replacement sale of unit 210‐2013Scheduled replacement was 2018 based on estimated useful life. 8,492 hours (pulled 2021‐10‐08).520,00050,000 470,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING71626‐1 ‐ Bridges Replacement 71626‐1 ‐ New concrete bridge deck and abuttment workScheduled replacement year based on inspection reports from Alberta Transportation's Bridge Information System (BIS), estimated replacement values are from BEADS.200,000200,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING71627‐2 ‐ Bridges Replacement BF 71627‐1 Scheduled replacement year based on 2021 inspection reports from Roseke Engineering Ltd.288,000288,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING76829‐2 ‐ Bridges Replacement replace BF 76829‐1Scheduled replacement year based on 2021 inspection reports from Roseke Engineering Ltd.40,00040,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING77009‐2 ‐ Bridges Replacement replace BF 77009‐1Scheduled replacement year based on 2021 inspection reports from Roseke Engineering Ltd.40,00040,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING78435‐1 ‐ Bridges Maintenance 78435‐1 ‐ New concrete bridge deck and abuttment workScheduled replacement year based on inspection reports from Alberta Transportation's Bridge Information System (BIS), estimated replacement values are from BEADS.200,000200,000‐ COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 75
Division *Job ID Asset Type Project Type Description Justification2023 Budget Grants Proceeds R.SurplusTaxes Funding Source32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTING903‐2023 ‐ Attachments NewTractor Mount Gravel Retriever •Remove berm along the roadside edge to aid in water runoff and prevent road damage. •Reclaim gravel that would otherwise be lost, bringing material back onto the road. •Remove clumps of rooted material for a smooth transiƟon from road to ditch (reduce/eliminate road top spraying). •Tractor mounted disk, beƩer uƟlize equipment (do not need to Ɵe up a grader for thisoperaƟon). •Highly recommended by the instructor that is training our grader operators as tool for reducing gravel ridges.20,000 20,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGB5‐00009 ‐ Fences NewGrader Site Development and Security ‐ Division 3Security Fencing is recommended as the department contiues to face challenges with theft of fuel, from both the grader unit and the grader site fuel tank, due to ease of access to the property. Fencing is a deterrent and appears to be working in the other 4 fenced remote grader sites that are compelte. October 13/21 Grader Operator from Division 1 reported the cables on the fuel tank were cut and suspected fuel theft overnight. Thankfully no theft of fuel however repairs to fuel pump cables on fuel tank were necessary, where a secured compound is a deterrent to this and this instance may have been avoided. Most remote grader sites have 2500 liter fuel tanks (approximate value of fuel today @ $1.30/L x 2500 L = $3250).25,00025,000 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGE2‐00107 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance Drainage RR133 from HWY535 to TR164 •3200 meters in length. •Proposing to improve drainage the enƟre length and road elevaƟon when possible. •Poor to no ditches resulƟng in poor drainage and snow storage. •SecƟons of road are lower than adjacent land, frequent driŌing occurs. •Poor drainage resulƟng soŌ roads. •EID in 2019 pipelined the Canal eliminaƟng roadside drainage for approximately 2400 meters on the east side of road. •Road intersects HWY 535, classified as a Non‐key road. •Drainage will need to Ɵe in with current EID drainage550,000 550,000 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGE2‐00115 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance Drainage RR134 from HWY535 to TR164 •3200 meters in length. •Proposing to improve drainage the enƟre length and road elevaƟon when possible. •Poor to no ditches resulƟng in poor drainage and snow storage. •SecƟons of road are lower than adjacent land, frequent driŌing occurs. •Poor drainage resulƟng soŌ roads. •Road intersects HWY 535, classified as a Non‐key road. Has a school located about 1600msouth of HWY 535 resulƟng increased local traffic. •Drainage will need to Ɵe in with current EID drainage550,000 550,000 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGE2‐00123 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance Drainage TR192 from HWY36 to RR154 •2286 meter in length. •Proposing to improve drainage the enƟre length and road elevaƟon when possible. •Poor to no ditches resulƟng in poor drainage and snow storage. •SecƟons of road are lower than adjacent land, frequent driŌing occurs. •Poor drainage resulƟng soŌ roads. •Road intersects with HWY 36 and TR184, classified as an Arterial Road, services Cassilsarea ratepayers. •Drainage on the west end of road will Ɵe into the County/EID Partnership completed work.400,000 400,000 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGE2‐00190 ‐ Roads ‐ GravelMaintenance Drainage RR155 from HWY1 to TR193 ‐ CCBF •4861 meters in length. •Proposing to shoulder pull and improve drainage the enƟre length. •Poor to no ditches resulƟng in poor drainage and snow storage. •SecƟons of road are lower than adjacent land, frequent driŌing occurs. •Poor drainage resulƟng soŌ roads. •Road intersects HWY #1, classified as an Arterial Road, services Cassils area ratepayers. •Drainage on the south end of road will Ɵe into the County/EID Partnership completed work.550,000 425,000 125,000 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGL1‐0059 ‐ Tools & Shop EquipmentReplacement Survey EquipmentSurvey equipment replaces 10 year old RTK surveyor grade GPS system.71,00071,000‐ COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 76
Division *Job ID Asset Type Project Type Description Justification2023 Budget Grants Proceeds R.SurplusTaxes Funding Source32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGOVERLAY02 ‐ Roads ‐ ACP‐Hot MixMaintenance Silver Sage Road OverlayEngineering technical review of existing paved road is planned so that engineered design recommendations can be considered and planned accordingly to preserve the original investment in the road while extending the useful life of the road.2,700,000 2,700,000‐ 32 ‐ ROAD, STREETS, WALKS, LIGHTINGOVERLAY04 ‐ Roads ‐ ACP‐Hot MixMaintenance overlay RR150 Maintaining paved surface as required.100,000100,000‐ 33 ‐ AIRPORTL10‐0002 ‐ Tank NewJet fuel system As proposed in the 2023 Budget prepared by the City of Brooks85,00085,000‐ 41 ‐ WATER4160‐0039 ‐ Distribution System ‐ HydrantsNewSample Station at Rainier ‐ $3000/hydrant plus install ($4000/hydrant) x 1 hydrantDuring the operation of our urban distribution systems, one requirement is to sample water from various locations in the system on a set schedule. In most of our hamlets this proves to be difficult as there are few commercial operations and aligning with homeowners to gain access is not always possible or efficient.7,0007,000‐ 41 ‐ WATER4160‐0040 ‐ Distribution System ‐ HydrantsNewSample Station at Scandia ‐ $3000/hydrant plus install ($6000/hydrant) x 3 hydrantsDuring the operation of our urban distribution systems, one requirement is to sample water from various locations in the system on a set schedule. In most of our hamlets this proves to be difficult as there are few commercial operations and aligning with homeowners to gain access is not always possible or efficient.27,00027,000‐ 41 ‐ WATER4160‐0042 ‐ Distribution System ‐ MainsNewRural Water Project ‐ Phase 2 ‐ MSIWater safety and security for County residents who are not currently serviced by the rural water system.7,575,000 7,575,000‐ 41 ‐ WATERL1‐0062 ‐ Computer Systems ‐ HardwareReplacement Water Meter Reading EquipmentUpgrading water meter reading equipment as current equipment is out of date. Carryforwarded from 2022.33,50533,505‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 312‐2023 ‐ 3/4 ton Replacement replace unit 312‐2009 3/4 Ton TruckScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 13 years old with 158,004 kms (pulled 2022‐10‐24).75,00075,000‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 321‐2023 ‐ Tractor Replacement replace unit 321‐2016 New Holland T5120 TractorScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 6 years old with 2,944 hours (pulled 2022‐10‐24).200,000200,000‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 326‐2023 ‐ Turf EquipmentReplacement replace unit 326‐2018 60" rear discharge mowerScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 4 years old with 826 hours (pulled 2022‐10‐24).16,50016,500‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 336‐2023 ‐ All Terrain Replacement replace unit 336‐2016 JD Gator 6x4Scheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 6 years old with 1,226 hours (pulled 2022‐10‐14).16,50016,500‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 337‐2023 ‐ All Terrain Replacement replace unit 337‐2015 side by sideScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Unit is 7 years old with 4,820 km's and 679 hours (pulled 2022‐10‐24).25,00025,000‐ 62 ‐ AGRICULTURAL SERVICES 344‐2023 ‐ Turf EquipmentReplacement 15 foot mower replace every 4 years55,00055,000‐ 63 ‐ COMMUNITY SERVICES 004‐2023 ‐ Transit Bus Replacement replace unit 004‐2016 Mini‐BusScheduled replacement based on estimated useful life. Bus is 6 years old with 278,653 km's (pulled 2022‐10‐24).156,000156,000‐ Grand Total23,848,654 9,029,929 300,000 11,868,725 2,650,000
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 77
Appendix II – Financial Plan (MGA 283.1)
SIGNIFICANT FORECAST YEAR ASSUMPTIONS
Forecast year estimates include an assumption that growth in assessed values and adjustments to tax rates will allow for tax revenue growth of under 3% in each of the forecast years. One-time operating expenses have been included
in the forecast years where these can reasonably be projected, and a nominal inflation rate of two percent has been
applied to some forecast year expenses. Inflation has not been applied to many expense lines which have historically
remained under budget at year end. Merit increases have been included and the cost-of-living allowance agreed to
in the CUPE contract has been applied to the salaries and wages expense.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 78
Appendix III – 10 Year Capital Plan (MGA 283.1)
SIGNIFICANT FORECAST YEAR ASSUMPTIONS
Forecast year estimates include an assumption that existing tangible capital assets are replaced at the end of their
useful lives as determined by the County’s Tangible Capital Asset Policy. For bridge files, the replacement date and
current replacement cost from Alberta Transportation’s Bridge Information System are used. Current replacement
costs are updated annually as part of the budget process and are inflated by two percent annually to determine the
expected replacement cost in each of the forecast years.
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 79
Appendix IV – Strategic Priorities
COUNTY OF NEWELL | 2023 FINAL BUDGET 80
Appendix V – Glossary
ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING This basis recognizes revenues as they become available and measurable and expenditures
as they are incurred and measurable as the result of receipt of goods or services and the creation of a legal obligation
to pay. This is also the basis for developing the County's budget.
AMORTIZATION An expense calculated and recorded for all Tangible Capital Assets annually to account for the
decreasing value of the asset over time.
APPROPRIATION A legal authorization granted by a legislative body (County Council) to make expenditures and incur
obligations for designated purposes.
ASSESSMENT A value established for real property for use as a basis of levying property taxes for municipal purposes.
BALANCED BUDGET A budget where budgeted expenditures and transfers to funds are equal to budgeted revenues
and transfers from funds.
BONDS A fixed income investment in which an investor loans money to an entity which borrows the funds for a
defined period of time at a variable or fixed interest rate.
BUDGET A financial plan for a specified period of time (year) that matches all planned revenues and expenditures
with various County services.
BYLAWS Legislation enacted by County Council under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act.
CASH BASIS Accounting method that recognizes revenues and expenses at the time physical cash is actually received
or paid out.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Cost associated with purchasing, building and significantly improving or maintaining capital
assets.
CONTRIBUTED ASSETS Assets that have been
transferred or donated to the City by another entity. These assets provide a future economic benefit controlled by
the County.
DEBT A financial obligation resulting from the borrowing of money. Typical in purchase of debenture from Alberta
Capital Finance Corporation.
DEBT SERVICE Amount necessary for the payment of principal and interest of the general long-term debt of the
County.
EXPENDITURE/EXPENSE Use of financial resource for current operating expenses, debt service, capital outlay, and
intergovernmental transfers.
FUND An accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts containing its own assets, liabilities and fund
balance. A fund is established for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in
accordance with special regulations, restrictions or limitations.
FUND BALANCE The difference between revenues and expenditures. The beginning fund balance represents the
residual funds brought forward from the previous year (ending balance).
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FTE (full time equivalent) A measure to account for all staffing dollars in terms of their value as a staffing unit. For
example, two (2) half-time positions would equate to one (1) Full-Time Equivalent.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP) Nationally recognized uniform principles, standards, and
guidelines for financial accounting and reporting, governing the form and content of many financial statements of
an entity. GAAP encompasses the conventions, rules, and procedures that define accepted accounting principles at
a particular time, including both broad guidelines and detailed practices and procedures.
GFOA Government Finance Officers Association.
GRANT A monetary contribution by one governmental unit or other organization to another. Typically, these
contributions are made to local governments by the Provincial and Federal Governments.
LIABILITY Debt or other legal obligations arising out of transactions in the past, which must be liquidated, renewed
or refunded at some future date.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS The construction or
replacement of roads, sidewalks, lanes and underground services for which a portion is paid by the abutting property owner.
MILL RATE The rate applied to the assessed value of a property in order to calculate property taxes owing. One mill
is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.
NET FUNDING Revenues and recoveries less expenditures is the net budget required for the year.
ONE-TIME ITEMS Expenditures associated with a limited term (typically one operating period) that will not become
an ongoing part of the base budget in future years.
POLICIES Council statements that set discretionary duties or standards of performance for the County.
PROPERTY TAX Revenue generated through the collection of taxes levied on real property assessment. Authorized
by the Municipal Government Act.
RESTRICTED SURPLUS FUNDS Represent amounts appropriated for designated requirements as established by
Council. Part of best practices management used for fund accumulation to replace capital assets and to provide
financial flexibility in times of budget shortfall.
REVENUE Funds that the government receives as income. It includes such items as tax payments, fees from specific
services, receipts from other governments, fines, grants and interest income.
TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSET Non-financial assets having physical substance that meet all of the following criteria:
• are held for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, for administrative
purposes or for the development, construction, maintenance or repair of other tangible capital assets;
• have useful economic lives extending beyond an accounting period;
• were acquired for use on a continuing basis; and
• are not intended for sale in the ordinary course of business.
TAXES Compulsory charges levied by a government for the purpose of financing services performed for the common
benefit of the people.
TAX LEVY The total amount to be raised by general property taxes for operating and debt services purposes.
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Appendix VI – Acronyms
AAF Alberta Agriculture & Forestry
ACA Alberta Conservation Association
AEP Alberta Environment & Parks
ASB Agriculture Service Board
ASP Area Structure Plan
ARP Area Redevelopment Plan
BMTG Basic Municipal Transportation Grant
CAO Chief Administrative Officer
CETA Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
CFTA Canadian Free Trade Agreement
COR Certificate of Recognition
CPO Community Peace Officer
CVIP Commercial Vehicle Inspection
EID Eastern Irrigation District
FTE Full-Time Equivalent
FCSS Family and Community Support Services
FSEPP Fire Services Emergency Preparedness Program
GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GFOA Government Finance Officers Association
GIS Geographical Information System
ICF Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework
ICS Incident Command System
MGA Municipal Government Act
MPC Municipal Planning Commission
MSI Municipal Sustainability Initiative
NFPA National Fire Prevention Association
NRSC Newell Regional Services Corporation
NRSWMA Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority
OHS Occupational Health & Safety – Alberta
PSAB Public Sector Accounting Board
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPSA Provincial Police Services Agreement
RCMP Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RPR Real Property Report
SAEWA Southern Alberta Waste to Energy Association
SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
TCA Tangible Capital Asset
TILMA Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
WCB Workers’ Compensation Board – Alberta
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