Red Deer Minute: Two Donations, Recovery Funding, and Budget Feedback Requested

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

This Week In Red Deer:

• There will be a meeting of the Council Agenda Review Committee today at 10:00 am. The Committee will set the agenda for the October 15th meeting of City Council.
  
  
• The Public Art Commission will meet on Wednesday. The Nomination Committee will meet on Thursday. No times or agendas are available for either meeting yet.
  
  
• The City is seeking resident feedback on the 2025 Operating Budget, which faces a projected shortfall of $17-19 million. To address the budget gap, Council has proposed 24 potential budget changes and is considering new funding sources and cost-saving measures. Citizens can participate through a survey and an interactive “Fund It” tool to allocate their tax dollars across different services. A summary of public input will be released in late October to inform council decisions ahead of the November budget debate.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Council has approved higher Municipal Consent and Access Fees (MCAF) and utility rates for electricity, water, and waste management. Red Deer households will see a utility bill increase of approximately $15.32 per month. Council intends for these increases to take effect on January 1st, 2025, unless further revisions are made during the budget process.
  
  
• The Red Deer Dream Centre has joined the provincial government's addiction recovery initiative, receiving a $1.2 million grant over two years to support an additional 20 publicly funded treatment beds. This funding, announced alongside the closure of the overdose prevention site, aims to remove financial barriers for clients seeking help. Despite the new funding, the center still needs to raise $800,000 to meet its annual budget of $1.4 million. Currently serving 16 clients, the center anticipates an increase to 25 by year-end, aiming to enhance its program's impact on individuals overcoming addiction.
  
  
• Two large donations were made in the community. Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools is contributing $30,000 to The Mustard Seed to support its school lunch program, which delivers nutritious meals to students throughout the school year. The Mustard Seed has provided 25,000 lunches to RDCRS students in the past year, with the program costing around $95,000, funded entirely by donations. An anonymous donor has also given $500,000 in securities to fund the construction of a new preschool building at Kerry Wood Nature Centre. The planned preschool facility will feature modern amenities and design elements aimed at fostering a connection to nature for its young attendees.

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Common Sense Red Deer doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

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