Operational increases, RCMP costs and future savings on recreation are among the reasons given for Battleford's 2.5 per cent tax increase. (Submitted photo/Town of Battleford)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Budget 2022

Council says Battleford tax increase important for future savings

Dec 15, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Despite reservations on raising taxes, Battleford’s council were united in affirming the 2022 budget earlier this week.

Mayor Ames Leslie said he felt the budgetary process went well, one of the largest capital budgets put forth in the town in years. Given the challenges of the pandemic, he stressed that the tax increase of 2.5 per cent is less than it could’ve been.

“Especially in a year where there’s a lot of shortfalls, with a lot of revenue asks, I do think it’s a modest [increase],” he said. “Unfortunately it’s not zero, but we can’t always do that.”

“I’m very excited about what this budget is going to bring to the community and I thank administration for getting it going.”

The increase comes with the assessments for homes having gone down as much as four per cent in tax assessment. Leslie said 1.5 per cent of the total is for operational requirements and to bite into the four percent loss of revenue, while the rest is being peeled away for future savings for recreation.

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“Whether that’s upgrading the hockey rink, Finlayson Island or any of our recreational facilities, one percent of the taxation will be peeled away to not have to ask taxpayers for a big lump sum in the future,” he said.

Leslie added that this also means not having to dip into reserves as much. Administration is carrying over $2,396,317 in savings and borrowing $1,941,591 from the town’s reserve. The projected total revenue and expenditures meet at $18,009,811.

During Monday’s meeting, several councilors expressed thanks to administration on the budget.

“It made our job much easier,” Coun. Judy Pruden said. “Fairly easy for us to go through it.”

“Happy to see that a lot of work being done this summer and our little town is improving,” Coun. Alexis Christenson said. “I hate increasing taxes, especially that amount, but it is what it is.”

The street projects for 2022 include:

• Third Ave from 35^th St. W to 36^th St. W including 36^th St. W intersection Street reconstruction — $296,000
• 29^th St. W Fourth Ave to Fifth Ave pavement overlay — $80,000
• Alley 24^th St. W to 25^th St. W west of First Ave (drainage Ridge Point Place) — $126,000
• 25^th St. 0 BK to 100 BK Street rehab curb/gutter, storm sewer, asphalt, sewer/water — $181,000
• 23^rd St. W 200 BK road rehabilitation — $434,100
• Central Ave, 15^th Street to Campbell Innis Way asphalt overlay — $150,000
• Sidewalk new location to Second Ave. Battle Springs Park to 17^th St. East side — $145,000

Prepared for RCMP change

Another factor in the tax increase is the RCMP salaries rising that is affecting many municipalities. While the cost is projected to be an increase of 25 per cent, Leslie credited town council for seeing the writing on the wall and approving the increasing of the town’s budget each year with the expectation that RCMP costs would end up much larger.

“The impact to the operational fund is not as detrimental this first year because funds were already set aside in case this happened,” he said. “It could have been another three per cent we would have been asking to cover the RCMP cost.”

Other projects

The town was able to complete the Sewer Lagoon upgrades this past year. Started in 2020 the construction’s total cost was $7,541,123.

“There’s some deficiencies that need to be addressed and then hopefully we’ll sign off that soon,” Leslie said.

Chief Administrative Officer Ash Alam also highlighted the work on the Truss Bridge Project, which suffered damage in 2020. This is the largest item in the capital plan at $3,468,300.

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