The Battlefords CO-OP Aquatic Centre is one of the recreation facilities closed due to the COVID-19 precaution measures. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Assessing costs

City to review financial impact of facility closures during pandemic

Apr 3, 2020 | 9:00 AM

The City of North Battleford is assessing the financial impact of closing its facilities due to COVID-19 precautions.

It is losing revenue with the closure of its recreation facilities as well as from reduced revenue from utilities usage by businesses, such as eat-in restaurants that were forced to close or reduce services to pick up or drive through only, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“There will be a loss on the utility side,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “Of course we have a lot of water customers who will be using less. So consumption will go down.”

The city is also losing revenue from recreation fees and rentals due to the facility closures.

While the city has some construction projects planned ahead it is currently focusing on responding to the pandemic measures.

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“I think right now the priority has been of course in dealing with the immediate aftermath of the start of the pandemic, and all the protocols around that,” Bater said. “We are conducting financial analysis to evaluate the financial impact to the city government. That work is ongoing.”

Bater said this will also include a review of all slated projects, including construction work planned ahead. Administration is involved in having an assessment prepared.

When councillors meet again on April 13, the mayor expects they will have an opportunity to discuss the matter further.

“The challenge is not knowing how long this will last,” he said of the pandemic measures. “We’re dealing with a lot of unknowns but doing our best to analyze and evaluate the full financial picture for 2020.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow