Council formally approves annual budget review items

A series of recommendations from last month’s annual budget review have now been officially carried by Lethbridge City Council.

On Thursday, during the continuation of the meeting that started Tuesday, as part of the Consent Agenda approval, the following items were carried:

• Request for Medical Supervisors, which is the addition of four FTE positions for purposes of maintaining the longevity of EMS services within the Fire & EMS department. They would be funded by the contract increase from the signed Master Service Agreement with Alberta Health Services
• Make Your Mark one-time Grant Funding Opportunity
• Parkland Growth and Capacity Impacts
• City Wide Sponsorship Program
• Indigenous Programming four-year pilot program at Galt Museum and Archives
• Indigenous Curator four-year pilot program at Galt Museum and Archives
• Environment Lethbridge Fee For Service
• Local Growth & Sustainability Grant Application
• E-26 & E-27 Water and Wastewater 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) amendment
• Tax Refund Request 4120024210001
• 2018-2022 Operational Review Final Update
• Graffiti Abatement (declined request)
• Community Safety Coordinator Position (two-year term)

These approvals won’t have any additional tax pressure or impact on the previously approved 2025 and 2026 tax rates, approved by Council from the November 2022 Operating Budget deliberations. Further background on the Annual Budget Review, Budget processes and City of Lethbridge financials is available here.

On Wednesday, November 13, the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee met for an overview of the current economic conditions and the impact they have on the City’s financial position and resources. Read the full recap, including an introduction to the Annual Budget Review, Economic Update presentation and the 2024 September Operating Forecast, here.