Okotoks residents will see an increase in both taxes and utilities in 2018 as the annual budget has been approved.

The average resident will pay an extra $68 annually on their tax bills, and see an increase of $56.70 per year on utility bills.

Elaine Vincent, Town of Okotoks Chief Administrative Officer says when tax bills go up, residents should keep in mind the additional services they'll be receiving in 2018.

"The brand new ice that's going to open here at the end of January at the Pason centre, so there's more sheets of ice and that's going to be a huge community asset," she says. "We need to have the staff and operating dollars to run that facility. We need to be able to open up our South Fire Hall 24/7, people will think just because it's built and there's equipment in there that its currently staffed, and it isn't. We currently only have firefighters in our North Hall, so this will allow for the North and South halls to be fully staffed. We will see an incremental increase of an additional four firefighters there. The third big area comes directly out of our Community Sustainability Plan where Okotokians have expressed a need for a local transit system, so we are moving forward September first with a local transit pilot."

The approved budget includes $56.3 million for operations, a slight increase from the $54 million in 2017.

Vincent breaks down the top users of those dollars.

"The largest user of that is our community services area, those are our water, where we go swimming, our recreation programs etcetera, that accounts for $10.2 million. The next big user of that are our Protective Services area; Our fire, police, and bylaw enforcement, so 17 per cent of the expenditure goes to the Protective Services area. Then we have operations and infrastructure, that's who does our roads, our snow control, and sidewalk construction. Next up would be water, sewer and waste, those critical utilities you depend on."

In terms of the capital budget approved at $34.6 million, Vincent says it's important to keep in mind capital funding comes from off-site levies from developers, reserves, and grants, not from residential tax dollars.

Two main capital expenditures for 2018 will be the replacing of the Laurie Boyd Pedestrian Bridge and improvements to underground infrastructure.

As for utility increases Vincent explains it will ensure continued cost recovery and future utility infrastructure upgrades.

"I think as we all went through the drought this summer and there was some recognition that we needed to enhance some of our future water facilities."

Along with the 2018 budget council approved a 10 Year Capital Financial Plan, and 5 Year Operating Financial Plan, Vincent says when it comes to budgeting the town is not just looking at today.

"We're looking at the future, we've used all of our master plans as guiding documents to lay out what needs to happen when."

Vincent shares residents can also expect an updated Citizen Budget survey over 2018, which will help ensure the town creates a budget that is meaningful to citizens.

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