Mayor David Gillan. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Provincial budget 2023

City gives positive review of province’s budget

Mar 23, 2023 | 5:20 PM

The City of North Battleford said it was overall “encouraged” by province’s new budget released this week, that will also benefit the Battlefords.

“I am pleased with the general direction of this year’s provincial budget,” Mayor David Gillan said in a statement Thursday. “The province has done well to increase support for municipalities and various provincial government departments.”

The city said the previously announced funding for a second Crime Reduction Team (CRT) in North Battleford is an important part of the province’s mandate to improve public safety in Saskatchewan. The additional eight officers and support staff will work to help address violent offenders and improve safety in the community.

The city also noted the increased funding from the province through the Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant is well received. The city added that the stable predictable funding allows municipalities to attain greater stability in budgeting.

“The City of North Battleford often benefits from occasional funding or project-specific grant programs from other levels of government, which eases the burden on our local tax base,” Gillan said.

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The city added the projected $348.1 million in municipal infrastructure funding is appreciated by municipal leaders in the province as aging infrastructure is a high priority.

As well, the city mentioned it appreciated seeing funding for Indigenous-led projects in Saskatoon and Regina to provide supportive housing and wrap-around services for people experiencing homelessness. It noted this is an example of “positive government investment,” which would make a good addition to future budget considerations for other regional hub areas with residents facing similar challenges, as in the Battlefords.

The city also commended the increase in funding for clients within the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services as an important need.

The city said it was also encouraged by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health announcement of an additional $22-million for staffing in rural and remote areas, which should benefit this region and its residents as well.

The City of North Battleford was pleased to see new funding for planning to replace the Battlefords District Care Centre in the Town of Battleford, calling the announcement “a great addition to this year’s budget.”

There were no increase to Personal Income Tax and the Provincial Sales Tax this year, which the city hopes will help Battlefords residents, at a time when inflation is causing the cost of living to skyrocket.

The city added, as it previously stated support at the provincial level for a new college campus for North West College is a priority for advanced education in this region.

“Funding progress in future provincial budgets would create significant opportunity for students and job seekers in North Battleford,” it said.

The city said it continues to advocate for this important development.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow