The 2024 Final Operating and Capital Budget has been approved by the Council. Administration has minimized the impact of the Tax Rate on the residences and business community by a 2% increase in the Tax levy based on the increase in the assessment roll and an increase to the minimum tax rate from $1000 to $1050. The mill rate for the 2024 taxation year will remain consistent.

In a review of the Capital Projects in Q1 2024, pending a final report, there is a requirement for further review in Q3 for additional discussions on a five-year capital plan. For the current 2024 Capital budget, it was identified that several asphalt overlays are required. Administration has advised that a proposed overlay project should move forward for the 2024 Capital Budget Year. Funding for this project will come from the existing grant programs.

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Council and administration confirmed that the mill rate for both Commercial and Residential properties will remain the same in 2024. An increase to the assessment roll provides a modest 2% overall increase within the budget, keeping the Town of Sedgewick in the right fiscal spending balance and conditions to meet the community’s needs.

On December 21^st, at the Regular Schedule Council meeting, Council passed the New Fees and Charges Bylaw to take effect on January 1st, 2024. There is no planned increase in the Water and Sewer cubic meter consumption rates in 2024, nor any increase in the bulk water and the recreation and culture fee. To facilitate the Town of Sedgewick’s overall operations, the recommended changes are to increase flat rate infrastructure fees and maintenance fees and introduce a Gas Distribution monthly fee on all monthly Utility billings, which will increase the average utility fees by $15.00 per month.

On December 21^st, at the Regular Schedule Council meeting, Council approved the Interim 2023 Operating Budget at $3,063,892 with amortization ( a non-cash item) and proposed transfers. Council is reviewing the possible Tax levy increase of 3% overall but has directed the administration to continue to find efficiencies and savings within the 2024 budget. The final capital and operational budget will be reviewed in May 2024 with the setting of the Tax Rate Bylaw.

On December 21, 2023, it was confirmed that bylaw enforcement had concluded serval cases with the voluntary removal of several dogs from the Town limits. Council is committed to the enforcement of animal control bylaws within the community and has advised the administration to increase the legal budget for prosecution in 2024 for future violations. Residents are encouraged to register their dogs before January 31st, 2024, to ensure they receive the 50% discount for registration. After January 31^st, 2024, full rates apply

On November 16, at the Regular Schedule Council meeting, Council approved a motion for an additional $30,000 to the 2023 legal budget from unrestricted general reserves to address the noncompliance of declared restricted and nuisance dogs within the regulations of the Animal Control Bylaw.

After careful consideration and with no short-term solution for the coronavirus pandemic in sight, the Town of Sedgewick regrets to announce that the #REDNEK concert featuring Gord Bamford and guests slated for March 20th, 2021 has been cancelled.  Full refunds will be offered for both table and individual seat sales beginning October 28th.  Tickets purchased at either the Killam or Sedgewick Wild Rose Co-op grocery stores and the Town of Sedgewick administration office will be refunded at the Town of Sedgewick administration office only.  Tickets must be presented to receive the refund.  Tickets purchased online through Ticketmaster will be refunded through that platform only.

The show was originally scheduled for April 18th, 2020 but was postponed to November once the province shut down due to the virus.  The concert was postponed once again to spring 2021 however with that date only being a few months away and the pandemic continuing to effect the ability to gather indoors, Town Council decided that another postponement was not appropriate.

“We greatly appreciate our sponsors and the music fans that have supported this initiative over the last 3 years,” stated Mayor Perry Robinson.  “We’ve accomplished a great deal in bringing these types of shows to a small community such as ours and we hope to bring more in the future once we find a path that allows us to do so.  In the meantime, we don’t feel it is fair to once again postpone the concert and hold onto the money of our loyal customers any longer.  Issuing full refunds is the right thing to do at this point and hopefully helps to further strengthen our relationship with our corporate sponsors and other ticket-buyers whether they are within or outside our region.”

Businesses and individuals who purchased a corporate table do not need to request a refund as cheques will be hand delivered.  Individual tickets can be refunded at the Town of Sedgewick administration office any time after 10am on October 28th.  Office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm with the office being closed during the lunch hour.

A special meeting of council was held on October 13th with one issue on the agenda being the rescheduling of the regular and organizational meetings which were to occur on October 15th.

Both the October regular and organizational meetings have been rescheduled to Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm. Meetings are held in council chambers at Town office.