In an effort to counter what it calls “rumours and misinformation” circulating in the community, the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has launched a Mythbusters page on its official website.

This new resource is designed to provide clear and accurate information on various municipal issues, helping residents better understand the municipality’s financial standing and other key topics.

According to the council agenda from Oct. 22, the purpose of the page is to “help provide context to items/issues for clarity or to simply set the record straight on others.”

The Mythbusters page was introduced after a Crowsnest Pass Taxpayers’ Association meeting on Sept. 19, titled Unboxing the Budget: Part 1, where members expressed concerns regarding the municipality’s tax policies and rising expenditures.

The page fact-checked some claims made by the association. For instance, it addressed the claim of a “57 per cent increase in CAO staff wages, salaries and benefits since 2022” made by the association.

Labeling this assertion a myth, the page says, “These numbers are artificially inflated by taking 2022 actuals, where the department was under budget and comparing to the 2024 budget.”

It continues, “The accurate number for the 2022 budget is $476,533, so 14 per cent over three years, 2022, 2023, and 2024, not 57 per cent.”

Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter emphasizes that the page was not developed solely in response to the association’s concerns, although he says it does address inaccuracies presented by the group.

“We are not driven by the taxpayers’ association, a very small group of people. It is important to get accurate information to all of our residents,” he says.

“It’s not that we are responding to them per se, but they have spread these mistruths throughout our community, and we are definitely countering them,” the mayor tells Shootin’ the Breeze.

Painter notes feedback has been largely positive.

“I’m in local business, and I speak to people every day. I personally have had lots of positive comments from our community regarding putting out the correct information,” he says.

In response to the municipality’s initiative, the Crowsnest Pass Taxpayers’ Association expressed disappointment over the portrayal of its concerns as myths.

Carmen Roman, president of the association, raises several concerns about the transparency and accountability of the information presented on the Mythbusters page.

In a conversation with Shootin’ the Breeze, Roman pointed out that the Mythbusters information was published on the official municipality website without references or sources.

She emphasizes the importance of knowing who is disseminating these statements, the intended audience and where taxpayers can find the supporting documentation to remain informed citizens.

Roman says the association relies heavily on audited financial statements and provides sources at every meeting and presentation.

“We don’t just put out information for the sake of putting out information. We reference it, we document it and we also provide the information for citizens in Crowsnest Pass to look at,” she explains.

“Are the Mythbusters easily navigated by the people? After reading them, do they actually understand them?” she asks.

Since its launch, the Mythbusters page has garnered significant attention, recording 755 views within the first day of its announcement, as per the council agenda.

Mayor Painter says efforts to address misinformation began earlier in the summer through local events, although the decision to post this information online was made more recently.

He notes that this initiative aligns with the council’s broader goals for transparency and encourages informed discussions to reduce confusion on municipal matters.

“We are countering their inaccurate information, but we will continue to put things on this page as they come up,” he adds.

The Mythbusters page can be viewed at the municipality’s official website.