WHY AUMA?
It’s a challenging time to be in municipal government. Many of our local residents, businesses, and staff are struggling. Costs are increasing while provincial funding is being slashed, creating budget crunches. And our political climate has become super heated.
Supporting municipalities and their Councils has never been more important. As urban municipalities, we can best serve our residents by working together. Which makes AUMA a vital organisation.
We need resources to better communicate to residents, business leaders, and politicians the challenges and successes of municipalities. And we need a united voice when we advocate for issues common to us all. AUMA provides that.
We need corporate services and training which are reliable and easy to access. Through the Alberta Municipal Services Corporation, AUMA provides insurance, procurement, pension and other programs for municipalities to use.
We also need strong professional networks to help Councillors and Administrators bring out their best work. Convention is just one of may ways that AUMA connects municipal folks with one another.
I’m running for the Board because I see all the important rolls AUMA serves. I want to do my part to support and strengthen its services. I’ve also got the curiosity, pragmatism, and work ethic needed to learn about and support the work of diverse municipalities across Alberta.
Keep on scrolling to see my priorities for AUMA and experiences which have prepared me for service on the Board.
ABmunis PRIORITIES I SEE
Municipal government is complex and every community is different. ABmunis needs to have a broad approach to support local Councils. However, there are some very common priorities I’ve heard as I’ve talked to Councillors, Mayors, and Reeves.
Housing & Social Issues
Housing, addictions, mental health, and other social issues are growing concerns in our community. These are not municipal responsibilities. But they are not being addressed adequately by other levels of government. Municipalities are being forced to step in due to growing pressure on our residents and municipal services. We need strong advocacy for other governments to do their part. And venues for municipalities to share pragmatic solutions with each other.
provincial funding
Provincial infrastructure funding has been slashed. ABmunis has had strong advocacy on this file, and this needs to continue. The value, needs, and fiscal realities of municipal finances must be clearly communicated to MLAs, MPs, and residents. Local Councils also need to be given better tools to measure and benchmark their spending to help them deliver value for ratepayers. And the needs of midsized cities need to be considered in Local Government Fiscal Framework allocations. The viability of Cities benefits both urban residents and rural residents who rely on urban service centeres.
municipal services
Insurance. Pensions. Benefits. Procurement. These are dry topics, but hugely important to municipal operations. Through AMSC (Alberta Municipal Services Corporation), ABmunis provides corporate services that many municipalities rely on. It does a great job of this. But given current fiscal realities, attention needs to be paid to ensure that these services continue to be of great quality and high value. This provides direct value to our members. These corporate services also fund 1/3 of ABmuni’s advocacy efforts.
Administrative Talent
Retirements and increasing challenges are making it more and more difficult for municipalities to attract and retain great Administrative talent. We need to be working with Municipal Administrator Associations to develop and retain more staff. There is also work that should be done to attract and retain senior leaders from other sectors into municipal roles.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS
Municipal politics is rewarding but tough work. And there is nothing else like it. We need to help elected officials build strong networks. They deserve to have colleagues in other communities who they can call up to ask for ideas, share successes, or vent with. This is vital for personal health and professional success. Effort needs to be given to helping Councillors, especially new ones, build working friendships with colleagues across Alberta.
your priorities
Above I’ve laid out the most common priorities I’ve heard when talking to Councillors, Mayors, and Reeves. However, I’d love to learn more about your priorities and your community’s needs. What else should AUMA be focusing on to serve you? Please send me your thoughts, or setup a time for us to chat at Convention. You can call or text 780-402-4166 or email dbressey@cityofgp.com