Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet Amalgamation Survey Final Report
The RM of LdB Amalgamation Survey Final Report is now available for viewing at the link below. We thank all those who took the time to fill out the survey and provide their thoughts.
Amalgamation Survey Final Report
Background
Council of the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet has, for a number of years, expressed the view that an amalgamation of the RM and the Town of Lac du Bonnet has the potential to provide operational efficiencies, improved services, and economic benefits that would enhance the delivery of municipal services to the ratepayers of the amalgamated municipality.
RM Council views amalgamation as the future of local government in general, and as a logical endeavour in light of the RM and Town’s many shared services, interests, and jointly-funded programs.
Examples of potential benefits of amalgamation include:
- consolidation of administration offices,
- expansion of the tax base that would be useful when the need for borrowing arises,
- efficiencies borne out of having a singular Public Works department, such as the shared use, maintenance, and replacement of equipment and allocation of staff
- replacing the need for the variety of inter-municipal project agreements that are costly to plan and manage.
Over the past number of months, Reeve Loren Schinkel and RM Councillors have had numerous informal discussions with residents of both the RM and Town who are interested in and see a need for amalgamation. Council members have been approached in person when out and about in the community and have received many phone calls as well.
RM Council recognizes that an amalgamation initiative ideally should be a joint endeavour with the Town of Lac du Bonnet Council. RM Council has initiated discussions with the Town Council and administration in this regard.
Consultation with, and input from, local residents is key when examining the topic of amalgamation. In this regard, Council recently directed the RM’s CAO to use his team to develop a survey with the intent of determining if the region’s residents are interested in having Council examine amalgamation further.
Amalgamation FAQ
For more information regarding amalgamation please see our frequently asked questions page here: http://www.rmoflacdubonnet.com/p/municipal-amalgamation-faq
Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet Amalgamation Survey
The Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet Amalgamation Survey was open between Nov. 11, 2020 and March 19, 2021. The original deadline was Jan. 31, 2021, but it was extended once as Code Red COVID-19 restrictions put in place soon after the survey launched prevented the survey from being distributed to local businesses and other strategic locations.
The survey was open to all residents of the RM and Town of Lac du Bonnet, whether permanent or seasonal.
The survey was available to fill out online on SurveyMonkey, available as a PDF on the RM website to fill out and submit to the RM’s administrative office, and available as a paper copy at the RM office and area businesses.
The survey was frequently advertised on the RM’s social media pages. In late January, a flyer was sent in the mail to RM and Town residents encouraging participation.