City to roll out its economic aid in early May

By Medicine Hat News on April 21, 2020.

A “comprehensive package” of economic help the City of Medicine Hat can provide citizens, taxpayers and utility customers will be introduced at the May 4 city council meeting, Mayor Ted Clugston told reporters on Monday evening.

“People have been asking about taxes, utilities and investments in the community,” said Clugston during a conference call with the media.

“I promise you’ll see a made-in-Medicine Hat solution two weeks from today.”

That will be in response to financial hardship and general economic uncertainty brought about by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since mid-March, calls for tax relief, utility discounts, and even potentially opening up some city reserve funds have come from some quarters of the community.

The city’s budget plan, approved in late 2018, calls for continued tax increases and cuts to fill a multi-million deficit that opened when the gas dividend dried up. A 3.5 per cent tax increase is expected this year.

Clugston said the tax rate will be discussed in the package, but potentially not passed until later in the month.

“This will be council’s direction to administrators (about a package),” he said.

Monday’s meeting was the second held under new protocols that bar public access to the meeting, but see it broadcast online and cable TV, with reporters allowed tele-conference access.

Clugston also revealed during the meeting that all council members are briefed daily on city operational matters and information from Alberta Health Services via a conference call.

Going forward, top city administrator Bob Nicolay will provide an overview for the public at each council meeting.