1st Week In!

Wow!



This is my first update since the election.  So thank you Cochrane for your confidence and I look forward to working for you again.

It's hard to explain what it means to me to be elected again.  When you're first elected, I always feel it's because people think you have good promise, but to be re-elected shows that your community feels that you've delivered. So as humbling as it was first being elected 6 years ago, it's even more so now.  Thank you Cochrane.

It's been a busy time since the election.  (And that's a nerve wracking day in itself!)  The new council participated in an orientation that helped our rookies get the basics and allowed us to start from the same page.  Having had some time to get the flavor of the new council, I must say I'm excited to see the next four years.

Monday night, Council was sworn in with a brief ceremony that includes an oath of office.  My family attended and my two year old made a lot of folks smile with his demands that his dad, "sit down!" and "shush".  It was nice to have them there.

After the ceremony there was a quick break and then council had our first meeting.  In this meeting council decided who was going to serve on which committees.  I'll be moving to work on the planning commission again, (I think this is like my 5th term since we moved here) and also on the Cochrane FCSS board, which I'm looking forward to as I've never worked with that board before.

Following that, we received the budget and the highlights are below.  There will be an open house on Nov 18th and Council will debate the budget on the 22nd and 23rd.

Questions or priorities for next years budget, please let me know - this is when your feedback is most valuable!

2014 Budget Summary


Cochrane Town Council’s inaugural meeting included a presentation on the draft 2014 budget.

The Town’s draft budget for 2014 is $39.9 million. Service levels are maintained from 2013, with a proposed property tax increase of 1.49%.

Proposed tax increase of 1.49% works out to $2.63 per on an average single family dwelling ($428,200 assessment).

User fee increases proposed:
• Wastewater consumption rate proposed increase 5.3% ($2.40 per month)
• Waste & Recycling Collection rate proposed increase 3.9% ($0.70 per month)
• Storm sewer rate increase of 3% ($0.11 per month)

The draft budget includes no increases to:
• Fire tax (even though Fire net cost of service increased by 4%)
• Sewer base rate
• Water consumption or base rate
• Eco Centre fees

Council will deliberate the budget at two special meetings in November: Friday November 22 and Saturday November 23, 8:30am - 4:30pm. As with all Council meetings, budget deliberations are held in Council Chambers, Cochrane RancheHouse and are open to the public.

Full budget documents are available on www.cochrane.ca/budget.

An open house is scheduled for Monday November 18, 6-8pm at the Cochrane RancheHouse where residents can get more information and give their feedback.