Annexation will require more staff
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Red Deer’s Corporate Services division will be busy this year with land annexation and increasing information technology supports, city council heard during Wednesday’s 2009 operational budget review.
Annexation of 7,500 acres of Red Deer County land is expected to occur later this year, increasing the city’s land mass by an estimated 40 per cent.
And with that will come an increased workload for Assessment and Taxation Services.
The department is seeking money to hire an assessor, plus a tax resource person who would be involved in transferring records. With these two new people, the department would have 18.7 positions.
Department manager Joanne Parkin said a lot of work is required with annexation, including consultation with landowners.
The Information Technology Services Department made several requests, including $85,000 for a new information technology analyst.
Department manager Dan Newton said he hopes to save money for the city, too.
“We’re consolidating our print services and we’re going to manage that centrally,” he said.
The purpose for consolidation is to reduce paper output as well, Newton said.
Corporate services director Lorraine Poth said one primary challenge last year was staff turnover, including those in key financial positions. They have since been filled.
Financial oversight will be playing a larger role for the division as debt increases and reserves decrease, she added.
Contact Laura Tester at
ltester@reddeeradvocate.com
