By Greg Higgins

N.B. mayor says 30% grant return not enough

Apr 5, 2017 | 2:00 PM

The Mayor of North Battleford is encouraged by the province changing its stance on grants in lieu of government buildings but will still pursue a complete reversal of the cuts.

Last Friday the province revised its initial plan to discontinue grants in lieu of Sask Power and Sask Energy buildings and instead cap them at 30 per cent. According to the Mayor of North Battleford Ryan Bater, the city will receive roughly $300,000 to go towards the original $2 million deficit caused by cuts in the provincial budget.

The move inspired some faith the government is willing to listen to municipalities and work with them to minimize impacts of the provincial budget for Bater but he said it still isn’t enough.

“While it is encouraging to hear the provincial government is acknowledging the hit to our city is far too great; it still falls short of our expectation,” Bater said. “Our expectation is that the full agreement will be honoured. We are going to continue to take them to task for that.”

Bater said the city and province have a clear agreement that North Battleford is owed five per cent of the value of the bills from Sask Power and Energy customers in the city.

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According to Bater, the city is working with other municipalities around the province and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, to get the grant in its entirety back. He added legal action is still a possibility.

“Any actions to see the agreements are honoured are on the table,” Bater said. “I do just want to reiterate, it is nice to be heard by the province and engage in dialogue. I hope it continues. Friday’s announcement, if nothing else, was an admission by the government that the original plan wasn’t sustainable for our community.”

When the provincial budget was first announced, North Battleford was looking at raising property tax 15 per cent to make up for the $2 million in cuts they’d have to make to the budget. The government’s announcement of returning 30 per cent of grants in lieu would reduce that number to a 12 per cent increase but Bater wants that number down to zero.

Greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins.