Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Jasper Municipal Council was set to approve its 2020 Operating Budget on Tuesday with an increased rate of 2.9 per cent.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic and our uncertain future, they have postponed the decision.
Councillors discussed reducing the rate increase to zero and implementing a bylaw that would allow Jasperites to defer paying their taxes in July if they can鈥檛 afford it.
Councillor Jenna McGrath said: 鈥淟ife as we know it will not be the same. We need to move forward to have a zero per cent increase so our businesses have some chance of surviving what鈥檚 coming for them this next little while.鈥�
But with reduced money coming in, the council will have less freedom to spend.
鈥淗ow do we best demonstrate that this council supports community?鈥� said Jasper mayor Richard Ireland.
鈥淚s it reducing the tax burden alone or actually supporting our community?鈥�
鈥淚f we say, get rid of external grants and save some money - but what will that do to those entities in the community?鈥�
The finance department will return to council next week with a new zero-based budget for consideration.
Emergency Coordination Centre activated
It was also revealed at council's meeting Tuesday that Jasper鈥檚 Emergency Coordination Centre has been activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Jasper鈥檚 Emergency Coordination Centre, a team is monitoring the situation and implementing measures as the situation changes.
McGrath said: 鈥淲e might not have all the answers today but our teams, our Emergency Social Services and Emergency Coordination Centre, are working on a plan and how to respond.
鈥淚t鈥檚 evolving hour by hour and we are doing everything we can in our municipal realm.
鈥淲e are on it and very proud of all the work being done behind the scenes. We will get through this together.鈥�
