Community budget approvals for Taber council

By Kenyon Stronski
Taber Times
reporter@tabertimes.com

A special meeting of council was called on Oct. 5 to deal with all things budget-related. After a presentation from the Chinook Arch Regional Library System, Bruce Warkentin of the Taber Chamber of Commerce stepped forward to present his request for the Chamber of Commerce’s 2023-2025 budget.

“The Taber Chamber of Commerce is the voice of local business in our community, we do events such as Cornfest which was very successful this year, a lot of people enjoyed coming to that and it’s one of the largest free family fun festivals in Canada. The winter festival, of course, is our business awards when we celebrate local businesses and individuals who have contributed to our community. We run the tourist information centre and our building project is coming to fruition very soon – we’re hoping to break ground very soon I’m told from our committee chair. Of course, COVID has caused delays in many things, including that project and all things considered it turned out alright because we were able to be within budget and hopefully We’ll have that building done in the next year or so.”

The chamber of commerce is looking for $25,000 this cycle as opposed to $23,000 front the last cycle, yet Warkentin remarked there are many important things the chamber of commerce does for Taber and area.

“I’m here to present our budget ask of $25,000 that goes to the various things I mention including the parade, and also we have the summer students that help with the tourist information centre and those activities are funded by your generous contribution of $25,000.”

Looking to make a motion, Coun. Garth Bekkering thanked Warkentin for his presentation, noting the little extra wouldn’t hurt. The 2023-2025 budget for the Taber Chamber of Commerce was approved. Next up was Chris Vowles for the Taber Public Library.

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