Milestones 2018 LSR_Milestones2018_WEB_SM | Page 4

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CAO “It doesn’t seem all that long ago that we published our first edition of Milestones in 2013. But here we are in 2018 with our fifth edition of providing the community with an annual report of key items. Welcome.” 04 ALLAN WINARSKI Chief Administrative Officer [email protected] 780.849.4888 “Like most of Alberta, MD Council and administration have watched with great concern the influences that affect core industries in our region: tidal water access for hydrocarbons; trade agreements and tariffs with our neighbours; and the impacts of carbon-related initiatives. Fortunately, our MD has a thriving forest industry that includes pulp, OSB, veneer and dimensional lumber mills — in addition to its other dominant source of taxation: oil and gas-related endeavours. While other rural municipalities have had significant losses in taxation revenue due to business failures in the energy sector, Lesser Slave River has so far been spared considerable losses against its assessment base. Assessment for municipal taxation purposes has remained consistent between 2017 and 2018 at approximately $1.5 billion. The financial statements embodied in this publication reflect a vibrant and strong municipal corporation. Lesser Slave River continues to work away as a prudently- operated municipality where work focuses on incrementally enhancing and improving what we have — without excessively burdening those who pay the taxes. In this spirit, citizens will see new projects in various