ECA Review 2021-02-04

12 F ebruary 4'21 HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLer, AB. ECA REVIEW
Just
adjusting
Cont’d from Pg 7
“This could also offer the fire chiefs
a little bit of autonomy and could provide
them with a small budget to keep
their departments supplied with
everyday equipment they need.
They would be able to track and
replace things as well.
With discrepancy in fire invoicing,
revenues are different for each
department which has been said to
‘unfairly target’ certain departments
as they have no forced policy for
billing.
“Invoicing has been left to the chiefs
and not all are following the current
policy which makes this an unfair
practice for the chiefs that are
invoicing.
If a tax levy were issued this would
alleviate invoicing from our volunteers
and give the fire protection a clear
budget to operate under,” said Coun.
Watts.
As for the villages, their revenue
would decrease but also their expenses
for purchasing equipment, covering
utilities and capital purchases.
“Another reason to change is that
our current employees are getting
every year closer to retirement and a
new, simpler agreement should be
reached for any incoming new staff to
understand and operate correctly.
She added that she would like to see
some departments with specialized
training to offset costs associated
with training and equipment as well
as look more into the legality of volunteers
issuing fire permits as to avoid
potential lawsuits.
Council began a discussion on this
topic, beginning by agreeing that the
plan should be adjusted to be simpler
in nature.
“We are not abandoning the villages
– just adjusting,” said Watts. “It’s not a
cost savings measure but one that is
easier to manage after.”
The panel of councillors agreed it
was a good idea to present this idea to
Morrin, Munson and Delia councils for
further discussion.
The next fire master plan committee
meeting will be held March 25.
Avoiding financial disputes with your partner
Is your better half thrifty while you
tend to spend? It isn’t unusual for couples
to disagree about financial
matters. However, it’s important that
conflicts be resolved before they
impact your relationship. Here are five
things you and your partner can do to
prevent financial disputes.
1. Discuss your goals and values, and
disclose your financial situation before
making a serious commitment such as
moving in together, getting married or
having children.
How to safely lend money
If you plan to lend money to a family
member or friend, it’s in the best
interest of both parties to have a clear,
legally binding loan agreement.
Here’s how to go about it.
Drawing Up a
Loan Agreement Yourself
If you’re loaning a small sum of
money, you may choose to draft your
own loan agreement.
In addition to the loan amount, this
contract should include the following:
• The full name, address and phone
number of both the lender and
borrower
• The loan repayment schedule and
whether the amount will be returned
in a lump sum or in multiple payments
• The interest rate on the loan, if
applicable
• The terms for late or missed
payments
• The signature of both parties, the
date and, ideally, a witness’ signature
The loan agreement should be
written in plain language. If you aren’t
confident about drafting the document
yourself, consider looking for a template
of a loan agreement online.
Getting Help From
a Lawyer
Drafting a loan agreement yourself
carries certain risks. If important
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information is left out, or if either party’s
obligations are unclear, the
agreement may not be legally valid.
Alternatively, you may unwittingly
agree to adverse terms simply because
you aren’t familiar with contract law.
If you want extra assurance, or if
you’re loaning a large sum of money,
always have a lawyer draw up your
loan agreement.
A lawyer can be counted on to create
a comprehensive, airtight contract. In
addition, they can provide legal advice
about how to handle the more delicate
aspects of the loan, such as the procedure
for handling missed payments.
By entrusting a lawyer to draft your
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2. Divvy up shared living expenses
in proportion to your respective
incomes. This involves agreeing on
what expenses should be shared.
3. Have separate bank accounts for
personal expenses.
4. Create a budget together and track
your finances.
5. Determine
whether shared
expenses that one
party voluntarily
takes on should
loan agreement,
you may spare
yourself some
frustration if a
dispute arises.
be considered gifts or loans in the
event that you separate.
Finally, consider consulting
industry professionals such as financial
advisers, lawyers or therapists if
your financial disputes begin to jeopardize
the future of your relationship.
Bring your taxes early for an RRSP Estimate
Deadline: March 1, 2021
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Box 2188 Hanna, AB T0J 1P0 Ph (403) 854-4045 Fax (403) 854-4660
Randy Sekura & Leila Webb, Chartered Accountants
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