(file photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

On budget

Town financial report bodes well overall

Apr 21, 2022 | 1:59 PM

The Town of Battleford had an overall promising financial report for the first quarter, from January 1 to March 31.

Finance Manager Mohammad Rahman presented the update at this week’s council meeting.

“I feel the 2022 operating budget surplus remains on target,” he said. “As well, overall the 2022 capital spend remains on target.”

Revenues received for the period accounted for 34 per cent of the projected total-year revenues, which is an improvement from the same time last year. Rahman noted major revenue sources such as property tax billings have not taken place yet. As well, he said the provincial operating grant is not normally paid until the second half of the year, so that is still to come in also.

Expenses for the quarter accounted for 15 per cent of projected total- year estimates, which Rahman said “for the most part is on track.” The town spent 27 per cent of the total 2022 budget projected, which is expected as it needed to make some one-time annual payments for certain items, such as liability insurance and town assessment consulting charges.

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The town managed to save some funds during the quarterly period. As noted in the expenses category, the town reported savings in 2022 by switching from the SUMAssure insurance program to the SGI Canada Insurance Policy.

Looking at spending, Rahman reported the town’s Parks and Recreation department saw some larger expenses in the first quarter for budgeted capital equipment projects and improvements.

The town paid for two basketball hoops and poles for Battle Springs Park, near 15th Street West, to be installed later this summer. It also made a deposit for a capital project to replace aging playground equipment at the town’s Kinsmen Park playground, located off 17th Street in Battleford. The playground replacement will also be done this summer.

Parks and Recreation Manager Jordan Schechtel said the playground equipment at Kinsmen Park is around 25 to 30 years old and was due to be replaced.

“Anything we can do to improve the outdoor amenities, and get people out and about and outside is great,” he said.

For the first quarter capital general fund, Rahman reported the general capital plan is overall on budget for the period, and there are no issues.

Looking at the capital utility fund, Rahman noted the town’s wastewater treatment system lagoon upgrade project was completed at the end of February of 2022. The full cost of the town’s most significant recent capital project was about $7.47 million, covered through a cost-share arrangement amongst the town, province and federal governments. Between planning and construction, the project was about five years in the works before it was done.

For the 2022 first quarter, Rahman noted the town’s utility capital plan for the year is progressing well overall, and on budget.

“It is recommended to continue with all projected spend in 2022, while reviewing 2022 investment into future projects as needed,” he said in his report.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow