Shocked by requisitions that are one-and- two-thirds the size of last year’s request, councillors for the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River and their Town of Slave Lake counterparts looking for answers. And they’re demanding a meeting with the Slave Lake Housing Authority’s board and administration. That’s after the M.D. requisition jumped to $171,000 from $102,000 the previous year, and the Town’s requisition from the senior’s foundation went from about $48,000 to just over $78,000.
“They have to understand we have only one level of ratepayer,” said Reeve Sheila Foley, “and they’re not our only requisitioning authority.”
Councillor Pat Monteith represents the M.D. on the Housing Authority and said the board rejected her suggestion to increase rents by $35 per month to help offset the looming deficit the Authority is facing.
“Nobody wanted an increase at all. But eventually they accepted $25 per month.”
M.D. councillors learned of the request at their regular meeting last Wednesday morning. It was weeks after they gave three readings to their mill rate bylaw for 2003. Their urban counterparts heard the news at a special meeting that night. Both face 66 per cent increases over last year’s requisition.
Municipalities have no choice but to pay the requisitions, but Slave Lake’s Mayor Ray Stern said he wants some answers anyway.
“I have nothing before me to say why this is necessary. We received no ‘Heads up,’ no information sharing” prior to the arrival of the requisition.
“They might have a very good reason for this increase, but we just don’t know what it is.
“We usually know (about requisition increases) well in advance,” but not this year.
“Unfortunately, we’re the only government that cannot legislate a deficit.
“And we have to be the vehicle that collects the school requisition too.”

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