There were a lot of numbers that came from last week’s Provincial Budget announcement, leaving many to wonder, what’s in it for Airdrie?

The NDP’s Budget promised more spending for education and a promise to balance in five years. The big number scaring many however is the projected $96 billion debt by 2023.

So what does a massive debt and more spending do for families in Airdrie?

Director of Corporate Services with the City, Lucy Wiwcharuk, said that they look at a lot of factors from each year’s Budget but in particular, they want to see how much funding they’ll get.

“We take a look to see what the grant money distributed looks like because that’s a very significant tie for us between Provincial Budgets and City Budgets. Generally, on an annual basis, the City of Airdrie is looking to receive about $14 million in provincial funding. We use this money to pay for Capital Projects.”

Those capital projects include many of the city’s road projects, including the expansion to 40th Avenue and the work and the future rail underpass on Yankee Valley Blvd.

Wiwcharuk said that at the moment, there won’t be major changes to local taxpayers through the provincial budget but worries about what might happen down the road.

“What we’re seeing is through many of the programs that were there, there’s lots of stability from 2017 going into 2018. Where it can affect us in the future is that there will come a time when the province needs to be paying some of that debt down. At that time, there’s always the risk that transfer type payments coming to the City will be reduced.”

Airdrie is still expected to receive its share of around $29 million for education and Wiwcharuk said the City will be paying close attention to see if transportation projects will be funded. The major one is still the intersection of Range Road 11 and Highway 566 which has been approved for a roundabout, but no dollars have been given to that project.

 

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