Crowsnest Pass council declined to add a fourth community peace officer while keeping more than $537,000 in other municipal initiatives under consideration for the 2027 budget.
Council reviewed department proposals and community grant applications during a special budget meeting Oct. 15. The directions given at the meeting will be used by administration to prepare the draft budget and do not represent final approval of the spending.
The proposed fourth peace officer carried a 2027 cost of $101,405, including wages, benefits and equipment.
Council decided to continue with the municipality’s current three-officer complement and assess how the department performs before considering another expansion.
Councillors said the municipality should operate with three officers for at least a full year, improve efficiency and review enforcement results before adding another position.
The discussion also addressed public expectations for greater enforcement. Administration said an additional officer would allow more coverage, although related ticket revenue would be difficult to predict during the first year.
Council members said community standards enforcement remains important but noted those cases can require significant staff time, paperwork and legal costs.
Other department initiatives supported for inclusion in the draft budget included $100,000 to repair the Miner’s Path and $95,000 for earthwork at Pass Powderkeg.
The Miner’s Path work remains subject to the municipality confirming its interest in the land, including an extension of its lease or an expected land transfer involving the privately owned upper portion of the trail. Administration is also expected to obtain additional quotations.
The Pass Powderkeg earthwork would reshape ski runs to improve safety and reduce the amount of artificial snow needed.
Council also kept $30,000 for the first phase of window replacement at the Pass Powderkeg lodge, with another $40,000 identified for 2028.
A $15,000 point-of-sale system upgrade and $8,000 for ski-hill safety padding were also retained. The padding proposal includes an estimated $5,000 annual replacement program beginning after 2027.
Community Services proposals included $35,000 for storage at the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex and $35,000 to pave the rear service area at the arena.
The paving would allow the arena’s ice-resurfacing equipment to dispose of snow without travelling over an unpaved area and tracking material back onto the ice.
Council supported $20,000 for a snow-push attachment and $100,000 to crush stockpiled concrete for municipal reuse or resale. The concrete program also shows proposed allocations of $100,000 in both 2028 and 2029.
Pool proposals included $25,000 for a digital sign and $23,000 to replace filter media described as being at the end of its useful life.
Another $31,500 was retained for protective-services software and technology upgrades. The proposal carries ongoing costs of $9,900 in 2028 and 2029.
Council also kept $20,000 for a movable, lockable storage container that could be used by municipal utility crews at different job sites.
The clearly resolved department initiatives retained for the draft total at least $537,500.
Council also established a working community-grant package of at least $1,059,555, although the total could change before the budget is approved.
The general operating grant direction totalled $675,355.
That included $453,683 for the Crowsnest Pass Senior Housing Board and $186,672 for the Crowsnest Pass Community Library.
The housing board told council it continues to face a mismatch between the types of units available and the level of care being sought by prospective residents. It also reported continuing staffing pressures and reliance on agency workers.
Council supported $15,000 for STARS Air Ambulance, compared with the organization’s $13,000 request.
Another $20,000 was retained for the Bringing Hearts Home campaign supporting cardiac care in southern Alberta.
Council did not add a new $26,300 allocation requested by the Crowsnest Pass Municipal Historic Resources Advisory Committee. Existing funding is to remain available while the municipality and committee investigate the scope and cost of a location-aware heritage-tour application.
Council’s Category 1 operating-grant direction totalled $267,000.
The largest allocations included $47,000 for the Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club and $45,000 for the Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society.
The Roxy Theatre remained in the draft for $25,000, representing the third year of an earlier three-year commitment. Council indicated the theatre’s operating model and any continuing annual municipal support should be reviewed before the 2028 budget.
The Crowsnest Pass Allied Arts Association was allocated $28,000, while the Bellevue Underground Mine and Crowsnest Museum and Archives were each allocated $27,000.
The Crow Snow Riders Association remained at $18,000, Peaks to Pines Residents Association at $30,000 and the South Canadian Rockies Tourism Association at $12,500.
Council retained the full requests of $5,000 for the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association and $1,000 for the Pass Powderkeg Ski Society.
A $30,000 operating-grant request from the Crowsnest Pass Golf and Country Club was not supported. Council separated the grant decision from a possible future review of the club’s water supply and municipal water rates.
A proposed $45,000 operating arrangement with the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce was deferred for a dedicated discussion.
The proposal would establish a broader service partnership between the municipality and Chamber. Council discussed whether the arrangement could eventually incorporate municipal funding for Crowfest, Christmas in the Mountains and the Lifestyle and Adventure Show.
Funding for those three events remained in the working draft at $20,000 for Crowfest, $5,000 for Christmas in the Mountains and $4,000 for the Lifestyle and Adventure Show.
Council supported equal $9,000 allocations for events organized by the Bellecrest Community Association and Coleman Community Society.
Other event directions included $8,000 for the CNP 40 Amazing Teen Race, $8,000 for the Crowsnest Pass Heritage Festival and $4,000 for Crowsnest Consolidated High School graduation ceremonies.
The Kananaskis Pro Rodeo remained in the draft at $31,000. Council also supported $2,500 for the Sole Survivor Trail Race, $2,000 for the Pole and Spur event, $2,000 for the Crowsnest Pass Music Festival and $1,500 for the Evening with the Stars Gala.
A $5,000 request from the Crowsnest Pass Health Foundation for its annual golf tournament was not supported. Council indicated it would be more receptive to a request connected to a specific health-care purchase or project.
KidSport Crowsnest Pass received support for its full $5,000 request. Administration indicated it may be moved from the event category to Category 1 because it supports continuing program delivery rather than a single event.
Council also added $6,200 for Rural Health Care Week and the work of the Attraction and Retention Committee for Health Care. That funding is also expected to move to Category 1, reflecting the committee’s broader work on recruiting and retaining health-care professionals.
The draft budget, including the grant allocations and department initiatives, is scheduled to return for further deliberation at a special council meeting Dec. 3.