The Town of Battleford is expecting the operating budget to have a surplus by the end of the year, despite COVID-19 restrictions. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Budget Outlook

Battleford expects 2020 budget to remain on target despite pandemic

Aug 21, 2020 | 3:18 PM

Despite the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, revenues and expenses for the Town of Battleford are at acceptable levels to keep upcoming projects on tract, according to Finance Director David Gillan.

Highlighted in the year-to-date financial report, savings in several areas and additions like the MEEP grant from the province, which could put the surplus ahead by $200,000-400,000, has helped finances stay balanced.

“Given that the operating surplus remains on tract, I do not feel there needs to be any change to the Capital Budget at this point,” Gillan said in the report.

Eighty eight per cent of the projected total revenues for the year have been collected, while expenses from January to July accounted for 54 per cent of the projected total, roughly on track in taking the pandemic into perspective. Despite a reduction in user fee revenue, savings in utilities, training events and other costs have largely offset lost revenue. The only additional expenses for the town related to COVID-19 were additional supplies and equipment and some investment in technology.

“Should the COVID-19 restrictions remain in place throughout the balance of 2020, I feel the town has various options to react and maintain the budgeted surplus without the need to reduce service to the community,” Gillan said.

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Mayor Ames Leslie said this great news for taxpayers and commended administration for their work throughout 2020.

“We’re finding ways to balance the books and according to the finance department, it looks like we should be able to realize the surplus we thought,” Leslie said. “Thanks in part to some government grants.”

Leslie said the province’s grant funding was critical during the pandemic.

“It will help pad those reserves, to make sure the projects get done this year and next year.”

The most significant project for the town this year, was the Wastewater Lagoon Upgrade, which did ultimately exceed the original budget of $5,000,000 because of a higher tender and omitted taxes and engineering. Despite the increased total, Leslie said the savings from the province are worth it.

“Unfortunate that there’s a little bit of an increase, but in the big picture, we’re saving more than $4,000,000 to the taxpayers by having the government support this project.”

The main concern now will be looking at how the pandemic shifts in the fall. Whether or not a return to hockey occurs will influence the outlook of the following year.

“If use of the hockey rink doesn’t go back something somewhat normal, then we’ll probably start to see a bigger impact for the last couple of months of this fiscal year,” Leslie said. “Because generally, we start to gain revenue again through the arena and the Alex Dillabough Centre.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports