Town budget includes Main Street paving, $3.4M in capital projects

By Ian MacKay

New pavement for Main Street headlines the Town of Rosetown’s 2026 spending plan after councillors approved a budget that includes more than $3.4 million in capital improvements.

The budget projects revenues of more than $7.7 million and expenses of over $6.5 million before transfers to and from reserves. It also includes payments of nearly $270,000 toward long-term debt and accounts for almost $1.7 million in net transactions involving tangible capital assets.

Overall, the financial plan shows a small surplus of $134.40.

Among the largest projects is approximately $400,000 to repave Main Street from Railway Avenue to Fourth Avenue. The town also plans to spend about $130,000 to repave “flankage” streets that do not have homes facing them.

Decorative lighting for Main Street is budgeted at $35,000.

Transportation spending also includes $851,000 for a combination sewer flusher and vacuum truck that first appeared in last year’s budget. The town plans to purchase a skid steer for $106,000 and a Genie boom lift for $60,000.

Development work for a proposed UFA fuel station in the town’s southeast corner is expected to cost $600,000.

More than a dozen recreation upgrades, valued at nearly $540,000, are also included. At the AGT Centre, planned work includes a new scoreboard, siding, chimney, security system, gas monitoring equipment and a redesigned front entrance with improved drainage.

The civic centre will see plumbing, drainage and gym upgrades totalling $129,000.

Improvements at the town’s swimming pool include three new pumps, a hot tub and a new deck. Repairs to the basement, which had been dismantled after water seepage, are estimated at $30,000, along with $10,000 for a new air exchange system.

The landfill complex is slated for several upgrades, including $100,000 for a road, $200,000 for a compactor-dozer and $60,000 for new firefighting equipment.

The budget also sets aside $200,000 to continue lining sewers, along with funding for new water meters for the town’s wells and lab equipment for the water treatment plant.

Other projects include $70,000 in improvements to the Orange Memories building and the purchase of two new columbariums for the cemetery, including a family unit.

The town expects to raise about $3.6 million through property taxes and the infrastructure levy. Grants are projected to bring in more than $905,000, while water and sewer operations are expected to generate about $145,000.