The surplus highlighted in the waterworks review from the last year will be added to the town’s ‘rainy day fund’ for emergencies and utility projects down the line. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Utilities Costs

Battleford sees consistent surplus in yearly waterworks financial review

Feb 1, 2021 | 2:59 PM

The town of Battleford has released its Waterworks financial review for the 2020 calendar year, which shows the community sits in good standing when it comes to utility expenses.

Utility revenues, such as connection fees, sale of water, sewer service charges, and infrastructure fees, among other things, totalled $1,520,875.

Utility expenses, which include electricity, telephone, gas and water costs, staffing and supplies expenses, and maintenance costs, to name a few, came out to $1,333,470; revealing an overall $187,395 utility surplus.

However, that doesn’t mean the town is going to spend the surplus right away. Mayor Ames Leslie said waterworks/utilities are handled as a stand-alone, neutral entity within the municipality, to ensure finances are available should the town need them in an emergency or pressing circumstance down the road.

“This allows us to put some money away in our rainy day fund, so when you’re seeing a surplus, it’s not really a surplus, it’s just a portion of your revenue being put aside for future builds,” Leslie said.

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He went on to explain the reserve fund allowed the town to pay for their portion of the lagoons, and furthermore would be available if they ever needed to build a new water line for example; allowing them to minimize the need to raise taxes to cover the cost it would take to build the new facility.

Chief Administrative Officer with the Town of Battleford, Ash Alam said the surplus amount is pretty well in line from years prior, with a slight dip in the overall amount this year, likely due to circumstances related to the ongoing pandemic.

“We would have liked to have had as much as last year, but I guess the province didn’t have enough money to spare because of the COVID [pandemic],” Alam said. “For that reason, we are not increasing any taxes, but we are just on a tight budget, that’s all.”

To see the full breakdown of the town’s Waterworks Financial Review, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1