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Common Sense Red Deer calls for caution from City Council considering 2024 budget

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From  Common Sense Red Deer

‘Tis the season for budget adjustments.

At this time of year, City Councils across the province are reevaluating their budgets and setting the financial course for the coming year.

What they should be doing is taking a close look at spending and seeing where they can cut back!

But, if recent developments in Calgary and Edmonton tell us anything, that’s the complete opposite of what is actually happening.

Thanks to recently passed budget amendments, Calgarians are staring down a 7.8% tax hike, while our neighbours in Edmonton are grappling with a 6.6% property tax increase.

Thankfully, that’s not what happened in Red Deer – but only because there were no budget adjustments in Red Deer at all!

Red Deer’s budget adjustments were supposed to begin at the November 27th Council meeting.

But, that discussion has been rescheduled to January 23rd, 2024.

Why?

Apparently, Administration needs a little more time to assess how much money will actually be available at the end of 2023.

Remember that this is the second year of a multi-year budget that already had a 4.12% increase built in for 2024.

Who knows what they’ll be proposing in January?

Recently, we shared with you how successful Red Deer County has been at managing their finances.

For the eighth consecutive year, the County received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

They may be close by, but their commitment to transparent, accountable budgeting is a world apart.

Red Deerians deserve transparency and accountability.

It might be bad in Edmonton and Calgary, but at least they know how bad it actually is.

We have to wait and see…

We refuse to accept higher taxes without a fight.

At Common Sense Red Deer, we’ll be watching the adjustments closely and keeping you informed.

As we prepare, your support is crucial.

If you can spare $5, $10, or even $25 toward our efforts, please click here to make a donation.

Your support will power our advocacy efforts and fuel our fight to ensure Council stays focused on core priorities.

Together, we can ensure that Red Deer does not follow in the troubling footsteps set by other cities.

Let’s continue to make our voices heard, demand answers, and fight for a better, more transparent City.

Regards,

-The Common Sense Red Deer Team

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Red Deer

2024 Hospital Lottery presents major prizes

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Officials from the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation have presented the top prize for the 2024 Red Deer Hospital Lottery.

The Grand Prize Dream Home package is valued at $1,072,624, including furnishings by Urban Barn. The key was presented to the winner, Maxine Rumohr of Sylvan Lake.

When informed that she was the grand prize winner, Rumohr said winning the home is a “dream come true.”

“This is a nice dream that I hope I don’t wake up from,” said Rumohr when she heard the news.

The bungalow by Sorento Custom Homes features 2,796 sq ft of finished living space and has four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a large, covered deck with vaulted ceilings. Among its features are a large primary suite with ensuite and soaking tub, a basement entertainment area, a walk-in butler’s pantry, main floor laundry, and a stone clad gas
fireplace.

Manon Therriault, Foundation CEO, expressed appreciation at the prize presentation. “We are incredibly grateful to the hardworking team at Sorento Custom Homes for bringing us a truly breathtaking Dream Home again this year,” Therriault said, speaking of the Red Deer Hospital Lottery’s biggest supporter. “Enormous thanks as well to our dedicated volunteers. All of Central Alberta benefits from the dedication of this tireless group of individuals who give so generously of their time each year.”

This year’s proceeds from the Hospital Lottery and Mega Bucks 50 will provide funding for critically needed equipment for several units at Red Deer Hospital.

Other prize winners present included Carolyn Pelerine of Cochrane, Alberta, who walked away with the $303,600 Mega Bucks 50 prize, as well as the winner of the Tree Hugger Tiny Home prize package valued at $163,798, Mary Vincent of Red Deer.

Red Deer Hospital Lottery 2024 Winners Fact Sheet

– 26th year of the lottery
– Built by award-winning Sorento Custom Homes
– Valued at $1,072,624
– Located at 16 Emmett Crescent, Red Deer
– Bungalow with 2,796 square feet of finished living space, four bedrooms, 2.5 baths
– Winner: Maxine Rumohr of Sylvan Lake, Alberta

Tree Hugger Tiny Home Prize – (includes accessories from Urban Barn)
– Valued at $163,798
– Winner: Mary Vincent of Red Deer, Alberta

Mega Bucks 50
– 50/50 raffle – Total jackpot of $607,200
– Winner of $303,600: Carolyn Pelerine of Cochrane, Alberta

Early Bird Prize
– $20,000 CASH
– Drawn May 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm
– Winner: Frieda Doz of Edmonton, Alberta

Second Chance Early Bird Draw
– $10,000 CASH
– Drawn June 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm
– Winner: Wendy Howe of Castor, Alberta

Additional Prizes
– Total value of all prizes was over $1.29 million, including dream home and tiny home
– Prizes included
o Cuisinart air fryer and Barista coffee maker (6), GoPro HERO 12 (5), Asus Vivobook Flip 14” laptop (10), DJI Mini 2SE Drone Flycam (4), Dyson V8 cordless stick vacuum (10), Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC power bank (5)

Proceeds
– Proceeds from Red Deer Hospital Lottery and Mega Bucks 50 contribute to acquiring critically needed, state-of-the-art equipment in several units at the Red Deer Hospital. This year’s lottery will fund equipment like a phototherapy system to allow parents to hold and soothe their infant while undergoing phototherapy, a cardiology case cart to monitor cardiac rhythms during stress testing, and other equipment to provide excellent care for patients at the Red Deer Hospital.

About Red Deer Regional Health Foundation

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is a fundraising organization for Alberta Health Services Central Zone, with a mandate to raise and disburse funds for programs, services, and the purchase of medical equipment.

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Red Deer

Last chance to enjoy mouth-watering fair food, thrilling rides, exhilarating performances! 

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Let’s end the week on a high note! 

Sunday Family Day Pass:

 $30 RAD passes for ages 12 and under!

Sunday Family Day Pass: $30 per carload of guest

Food Trucks for DAYS!

Be sure to stop by The District for a snack or meal you’ll remember!

Multi-day Pass ensures you won’t have food FOMO! We have a so many local food trucks ready to share their best creations!

West Coast Amusements Midway

Schedule

12:00 pm – 12:00 am Daily

Global FMX Motocross

Schedule:

2:00 – 4:40

4:30 – 5:10

6:00 – 6:40

Monster Truck Rides

Schedule

12:00 – 4:45

7:45 – 9:45

Purchase RAD Pass Here

Schedule

12:00 – Race Track BBQ Opens & Beer Hawkers Start

1:00 – 3:30 – Chuckwagon and Chariot Races

More Activations to Visit!

*NEW THIS YEAR*

Get Tickets!

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