The town of Sackville headed into 2010 with money in the bank, posting a surplus for the 13th straight year.
Despite increased expenses in several departments, the town managed to end the 2009 financial year with a $41,453 surplus thanks to higher-than-expected revenue brought in to the municipality’s coffers.
Revenue was up in nearly every department in 2009, balancing out the over-expenditures from higher legal fees, civic centre debt, RCMP over-runs, fire department staffing, public works operations, and final payments for the Cultural Capitals project.
Council approved the audited financial statements last Monday night for 2009 – prepared by Stevenson and Partners –after learning the town’s financial situation was in good shape and the town headed into the new year deficit free.
Mary McKendy, a chartered accountant and manager at Stevenson and Partners, said expenditures were up also due to several projects (which were funded by the town’s capital-out-of-revenue funds) coming in higher than budgeted.
The main capital-out-of-revenue project was the site work for the new emergency services/town hall facility. The expenses for this work were offset, however, by a $385,000 contribution from the RCMP towards the expenses of the project.
The town’s figures show that $9,159,866 was brought in through revenue in 2009 while expenses totalled $9,118,413, meaning that the various departments came within .48 per cent of matching their budgets.
General government had the largest over-expenditure, mostly due to higher legal fees and to pay off “bad debts” from the civic centre fundraising.
Policing expenses were also up slightly because of higher-than-anticipated animal control costs and bylaw enforcement costs; and revenue was down because of lower municipal bylaw charges and lower-than-expected revenue from dog licenses.
In the fire department, expenses were $70,000 more than anticipated because of higher property operating costs, vehicle operation and supplies, and new staffing expenses as the town hired its first full-time fire chief. Revenue was up slightly from billing for false alarms and use of fire equipment at motor vehicle accidents.
Engineering and public works also came in over budget due to increasing operating costs, such as higher vehicle repairs, snow removal, and street maintenance. Revenue was up because of money received from Enbridge Gas for the natural gas pipeline installation and also for higher-than-expected revenue from the sale of culverts.
Under parks and recreation, expenses were down because of lower-than-anticipated staffing costs, library operations, program operating, and training/travel costs for staff. Revenue was up because of an increase in summer program and swim program registrations.
Expenses were up at the civic centre, mostly due to higher salary and benefit costs as well as increased costs to operate the facility. A portion of those costs were made up with higher-than-anticipated revenue from user fees in both winter and summer months.
Expenses were down in the tourism department because of lower-than-expected salary and benefit costs, while the community development department saw an increase due to Cultural Capital expenses. Revenue was up in both those departments, however, due to higher rental fees than budgeted.
The town also posted a surplus in its utility fund of $8,627 for 2009. This surplus comes even with less revenue trickling in as residents cut back on their water usage. Expenses, however, have also been cut due to lower staff salary and benefit costs than anticipated.
