The RM of Woodlands Council can finally move forward with their 2016 budget. They hit a bump in the road when a borrowing by-law related to the expansion of the lagoon in the town of Woodlands was denied by the municipal board, over concerns surrounding the taxation model. Council and administration were forced to go back to the drawing board, and have since decided to fund the project using $675,000 in gas tax revenue, and the remaining $225,000 using funds from the building replacement reserve.

Two public hearings on the budget were held Tuesday in Woodlands, the first to use reserve funds, and the second for the revamped financial plan. Reeve Trevor King says they were pleased to see a number of members of the public at those hearings, even if some didn't agree with their plans.

"Definitely had met some opposition, but we had some proponents of it as well. We even had some who were opposed, but by the end of the presentation they felt it was a good budget. Council as a whole is quite confident it's a good budget."

King says one issue raised by some of those in attendance was the use of the building replacement reserve. However, King says they already have a plan in place to pay back those funds, without using taxpayer money.

"We had a bit of opposition to us taking from the building replacement reserve to top up what we needed for the lagoon project, but in the end it's going to be gas tax money that pays it back to that reserve, so it's a project that fits the criteria of the federal gas tax."

King says they're overall pleased with the budget, especially since their $4 million dollars in capital projects will be 50 per cent covered by funding from other levels of government. Council intends to pass the budget at next Tuesday's council meeting.