Town of Redcliff outlines unusual expenses from COVID-19 as provincial program will reimburse

Unpaid taxes, computer upgrades for remote meetings and lower recreation revenue account for most of the Town of Redcliff’s COVID operating costs that could be recovered through a provincial municipal aid program.

The Municipal Operating Support Transfer was set up this fall on a per-capita basis to help municipalities absorb unusual operating costs related to the pandemic.

Of the $572,050 allowed to the town, the largest item is $351,300 in taxes that were unpaid on Dec. 8, according to information that was presented to town’s council Monday.

Another $98,000 was spent on computer, audio and video equipment, software and cybersecurity measures as employees worked remotely and meetings were moved online to observe capacity limits and allow public attendance.

That figure includes $50,000 for council chamber audio video equipment technology and a separate $9,500 for video conferencing equipment.

Another $35,250 was related to wages, while recreation fees dropped after most facilities were closed in the spring and reopened with lower capacity in the summer.

In rec revenue a drop of $28,000 in general programming fees was recorded, alongside lower swimming pool revenue, ($25,900), court and ball diamond rentals ($21,500).

MOST will refund eligible receipts from cities, towns, counties and other municipality up to total amounts based on a per capita formula.

Medicine Hat’s total would be about $7 million and Cypress County’s $780,800.

It is paid for in Alberta by the $1.3-billion “Safe Restart” agreement between Ottawa and the province.