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By Kenneth Cheung

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Unpaid tickets in North Battleford top $450K as fines increasingly go unpaid

Feb 24, 2026 | 3:11 PM

A growing number of municipal fines are being left unpaid in North Battleford, with city figures showing a sharp jump in outstanding tickets in 2025.

The latest quarterly financial report to council shows $451,320 in outstanding municipal ticket fines as of Dec. 31, 2025, including 1,589 unpaid tickets issued last year, roughly double the typical annual amount.

Director of Finance Margarita Pena said the spike reflects a growing trend.

“1,500 is double what it normally is,” she said. “So 2025, there’s a trend that people are getting ticketed and not paying the fees.”

For the record, there were 795 unpaid tickets in 2024. Over a six-year period, the number of unpaid tickets had risen by roughly 179 per cent since 2019, climbing from 569 that year.

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The figures apply to municipal bylaws and parking tickets issued by the city’s community safety officers and do not include provincial offences.

Pena said some unpaid fines involve out-of-province vehicles and may be difficult to recover, but others remain collectible. The city does not write off unpaid tickets and continues to carry them in its system while exploring new enforcement tools.

Administration is reviewing options to improve collections, including better data tracking across systems and using licence plate readers to identify vehicles with significant outstanding fines. Repeat offenders could face towing or other enforcement measures.

Director of Protective Services Lindsay Holm said unpaid tickets can fluctuate over time and may be influenced by broader economic pressures.

“I guess if it’s getting to the point where somebody wants to put food on the table versus pay a parking ticket, you’ll see that happen a little bit,” he said, adding improved tracking and enforcement tools are expected to help reduce the total.

Mayor Kelli Hawtin described the amount of unpaid fines as “a really frustratingly high number” and said council is looking forward to a clearer plan to recover the money.

While unpaid tickets have surged, the report shows some improvement in other areas of the city’s finances.

Property tax enforcement files have dropped to about 154 properties, down from roughly 250 a year earlier, suggesting progress in collections. Outstanding general accounts receivable – including demolition costs, landfill tipping fees and recreation bookings – total more than $800,000, with some larger invoices still being pursued.

Pena said administration is working on changes to reduce future arrears, including requiring upfront payment or securing credit card information for certain services.

Council received the quarterly financial report for information as the city continues finalizing its year-end financial statements for 2025.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com