By Angela Brown

Town seeing three per cent tax increase; bridge study starting

May 27, 2018 | 8:38 AM

The Town of Battleford will be looking at a three per cent average increase in revenue from municipal taxation for 2018, based on the new budget passed at a recent special meeting of council. 

There will be no change to property owners’ water and sewer rates for 2018.

The town’s director of finance David Gillan presented a balanced budget for the year, which contained a number of projects planned for 2018 including the Finlayson Island bridge study.

The three per cent tax increase will add an estimated $80,000 to municipal coffers.

“The base tax didn’t change this year; the mill rate is going up on an average of three per cent,” said Mayor Ames Leslie in an interview Friday.  

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Taxes will increase an average of three per cent, based on the average taxable assessment.

“I think it is a viable, comfortable amount,” said Leslie. “It’s always a tough decision by council to increase taxes, but with time, and the town is growing, so does the cost and so does the expense of running the town. So an increase sometimes is where you need to go.”

The tax increase will partially help pay for projects in the year ahead as well as support increased operational costs.

“The cost of running the town goes up every year,” said Leslie. “And with the continual downloading from the provincial and federal governments, there are less grants and less funding coming from those levels. Unfortunately, the municipal taxpayer has to help compensate for that.”

The mill rate is one factor, in conjunction with property prices, to calculate a homeowner’s taxes. A municipality will modify the mill rate depending on the amount of revenue it needs to raise.

Among the town’s operating expenses reflected in the budget are the addition of a full-time deputy fire chief, a part-time finance supervisor, and a temporary town planner.

Some of the highlights also include increases in revenue from the reinstated SaskEnergy grants-in-lieu of property tax at $92,000 for 2018, as well as revenue from projected land sales.

A few of the major capital projects planned for the year include finishing both the West Park Reservoir project and the arena ice plant replacement, as well as street rehabilitation work for a section of Second Avenue for road, curb and gutter work, as well as sewer and pipe-work upgrades.

The finance department is predicting a $1.6 million surplus in 2018 which in part will help cover costs for the capital projects this year and also help support future projects.  

Bridge assessment

The Finlayson Island bridge study work is expected to be done in June with a report prepared for September. The budget includes $50,000 earmarked for the study. The town had been concerned about what upgrades are needed to the bridge, and in particular whether or not the south-side of the bridge can handle the eight-tonne approved maximum weight restriction rating in place for vehicle traffic. 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW