M.D. of Taber signs off on ORRSC membership fee increase

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the M.D. of Taber Council meeting that took place on November 12, Council reviewed a letter from Gord Wolstenholme, Chair of the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, and Lenze Kuiper, Chief Administrative Officer of the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, regarding an upcoming adjustment to annual membership fees that will be effective January 1, 2025.

“After careful review and deliberation of the organization’s finances the Executive Committee has determined that membership fees will need to increase for Oldman River Regional Services Commission to remain financially viable,” stated Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter. 

Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter was firm in establishing that the Oldman River Regional Services Commission can no longer rely on the financial instability associated with the fees for services and subdivision fees to meet the minimum financial needs of the organization.

Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter also stated that the Executive Committee and Administration’s goal to find a way to remain financially stable and continue to provide member municipalities with the high-quality services and programs that our membership has come to expect.

For 2025, Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter stated, the mill rate is estimated to increase by 0.031, in addition to raising the fee ceiling to $108,000 (estimated using the 2024 equalized assessments), and an increase of the fee floor to $5,000.00. 

“As we await the official 2025 equalized assessment numbers from the Province of Alberta, there will be an opportunity to review the proposed changes and adjust them accordingly,” said Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter. 

Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter stated that the Oldman River Regional Services Commission has also thoroughly reviewed the operational costs, and the Executive Committee has determined a financial goal of guaranteeing that the organization’s fixed expenses, which include payroll, benefits, utilities, insurance, software, and professional services, are covered by the annual membership fees. 

“The Executive Committee’s long-term goal for moving forward is for the fixed operating expenses to be fully covered by membership fees within three years,” said Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter. “The Executive Committee acknowledges that the proposed plan is aggressive, but it is important for the organization to develop a new financial stability plan to ensure that our members can continue to have the planning, subdivision, and GIS services which we have provided to our members over the last 69 years. We want to make certain that our members know that a large amount of time and discussion was put into reviewing several scenarios and financial plans, and that these proposed changes are not being implemented lightly. Our intention, moving forward, is to conduct large-scale financial reviews, like the one completed this Fall on a regular basis.”

Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter firmly emphasizes that the Executive Committee of the Oldman River Regional Services Commission believes that a three-year financial plan will help to ensure the organization’s viability and assist the member municipalities with future budget planning. 

“We understand that an increase in fees can be challenging and that all industries, including municipal government, are feeling the financial pressures of the current economic climate,” said Wolstenhome and Kuiper’s letter. “We want to assure our membership that a great deal of consideration has gone into this decision and that we appreciate the loyalty and support that we have received since the Oldman River Regional Services Commission’s inception. Oldman River Regional Services Commission remains dedicated to providing exceptional value to our members.”

A motion was made to accept the consent agenda, which included the letter, as presented and the motion was carried.