The RM of Woodlands is hoping the second time's the charm, when it comes to passing their 2016 financial plan. The municipality had already held a public hearing, and given the document first reading, when they were notified the municipal board had denied their borrowing by-law to cover the cost of the Woodlands lagoon expansion due to concerns over the tax levy proposed to cover the cost. Despite the by-law being denied, Reeve Trevor King defends their taxation method, noting the project's necessary and would benefit the whole RM. 

Reeve Trevor King

"Council still feels it was the fairest way to do things, doing it amongst everybody with the exception of the farmland and the LUD of Warren. We felt this lagoon expansion was going to be a benefit to everyone in the municipality, so that's why we wanted to do it that way."

The lagoon expansion's needed for the town of Woodlands, as the current lagoon's at capacity, prompting a prohibition on dumping and further development. King also previously noted by expanding that lagoon, they'd be able to keep agriculture property intact, by preventing urban sprawl. While their first plan for funding the municipalities $900,000 portion of the $1.8 million project was denied, King says they still fully intend to move forward with the expansion.

"We know this project has to be done, it's very important that we get it done. We've taken another look at our financial plan and we're going to take some money out of our municipal building replacement reserve to be able to complete this project. Now we have to have another public hearing for the financial plan, as well as another public hearing to take those funds from the building replacement reserve."

King notes about $225,000 will be taken from the reserve, while the remaining $675,000 will come from gas tax revenue. However, he notes taking funding from that reserve will have an impact one at least of their proposed plans.

"That building replacement reserve was there for us to build our new shop, and upgrade some of the older facilities in our shop yard. It's going to change some of the things there a bit, and we're going to have to do some of that in phases. We're still going to build that shop, but there will be some of the upgrades to the existing building that won't be happening immediately."

King notes the two public hearings will be held June 7th, and they hope to pass the budget after the hearings.