Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie, left, and CAO John Enns-Wind, as shown. The town received an overall positive report from its financial audit, Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Dollars and sense

Town pleased to see positive financial report

Jun 19, 2019 | 5:33 PM

The Town of Battleford is tickled pink after receiving a rosy report from the auditor for 2018.

Mayor Ames Leslie said despite last year’s problem of having to clean up some billing glitches dating back to 2016, the town’s audits “have continued to be strong in this community for 20-odd-years, for decades.”

“The town has a strong reputation of being financially prudent and responsible,” Leslie said. “This year, again, it just goes to show the management of the town’s finances is top priority for the councils of today and of the past.”

Dallan Oberg, chartered professional accountant with Holm, Raiche, Oberg Accounting, presented the 2018 financial statement during Monday’s meeting.

Oberg commended the town’s finance director’s new ‘boots on the ground’ tactic of phoning people directly to collect taxes in arrears, and improve the town’s financial picture.

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“Our economy is slow,” Oberg said. “If people can afford to pay, they will work with you.”

Overall, Oberg said “the town is doing well financially” as of year-end 2018.

For the statement of operations, the town finished the year with a surplus of only $959,000 in 2018, compared to $2 million in 2017.

Oberg attributes the difference to the income the town received in 2017 as it provided the City of North Battleford with water following the Husky oil spill in 2016.

“You are no longer selling your water. That’s the major decrease in your revenue,” he said. “It’s still a healthy balance sheet.”

“As long as it’s not a negative; to me that shows a very good sign,” Oberg said of the surplus amount.

The town’s liabilities saw a decrease last year, at $807,000 in 2018, compared to $1.1 million in 2017.

Oberg attributed the difference mainly to the payments to construct the West Park Reservoir project in 2017.

In reviewing assets, Oberg noted the town’s infrastructure saw some improvements and additions in 2018. Capital assets increased to $29 million, compared to $26 million in 2017, reflecting the town’s investments in the reservoir project, arena improvements, playgrounds, vehicles and equipment.

“The town is doing very well financially,” he said. “There are no concerns from our part.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW