Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie, left, with CAO John Enns-Wind at council’s meeting Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Town passes 2020 budget with small municipal tax increase

Dec 17, 2019 | 8:49 AM

The ayes have it.

The Town of Battleford council gave its approval for a one per cent municipal property tax increase for next year’s budget at Monday’s meeting.

The small increase works out to $16 per year more for the average assessed residential property. The average assessed commercial property will see a $31 per year increase. The actual tax increase will depend on the property’s assessment value.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the one per cent increase is modest.

“I think it is a reasonable ask within the state of today’s economy,” he said. “One per cent isn’t significant. It’s roughly the cost of a coffee per month.”

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There was no increase to utility rates.

Recycling fees will increase by 25 cents, to $16/bin/quarter from $15.75/bin/quarter to correspond with the increase to the rate Lorass Environmental is charging the town for the pickup service.

Some of the projects the town plans for 2020 include completing a large paving project and upgrading the lagoon wastewater treatment system.

Council enquired about the paving and street rehabilitation project planned for a section of 23 St. W. as they were concerned about the timelines. However, town administration said if the project is delayed for any reason or deemed problematic for the time-frame anticipated, then the town can use the funds for upgrade work elsewhere instead.

Leslie was pleased to see the budget process completed so efficiently this year.

Having the budget passed before the end of 2019 will mean the town has more time to prepare for its construction season projects for the year ahead.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Like I had mentioned in the council chambers, it’s been a goal of mine to try and pass a budget this early for the last eight years that I have been part of this council of the Town of Battleford.”

He said it is a relief to see it approved so quickly.

“I have the utmost confidence in this council and our administration to see a budget come together this quickly and to be approved before Jan. 1, so our teams can get the boots on the ground and get things going for all our projects,” he said. “We have some significant projects coming up in 2020, so I’m just excited to see how many we can get done.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow