WEYBURN – The preliminary budget for the City of Weyburn was released on Monday evening at the council meeting, with a proposed tax increase of 6.47 per cent, or about $10 a month.
The City will hold an open house on their proposed budget on Nov. 7, and will take suggestions and questions at that time, with discussions to take place at the Nov. 27 council meeting, when delegations can appear before council to make their views known about what is proposed.
The final decision on the 2024 budget will then be made at the Dec. 11 council meeting.
The proposed tax increase is to bring in $650,467 of revenue, and that amount was broken down by department. Leisure services will get a 3.23 per cent increase or $325,019 more in funding; police are looking for 2.26 per cent or $228,147; engineering is asking for 1.85 per cent more or $185,870; public works seeks 1.35 per cent or $136,052; parks is asking for 1.08 per cent more or $108,090; the Fire Department is seeking a 0.11 per cent increase of $10,675; planning and development is looking for 0.07 per cent decrease or $6,590 less; and administration and finance is looking to have a 3.35 per cent decrease, or $336,796 less than the current year.
The net operating budget for 2024 is proposed to be $25,078,204, including $22,265,204 for the operating budget, and $2,813,000 for capital spending.
The impact of the budget on a residence assessed at $300,000 will see $70 added to the municipal tax, and the base tax will be going up $50 from $765 to $815, for a total increase of $120 or $10 a month.
This amount does not include the provincial education tax, which is set by the provincial government in their spring budget.
“We’re going to our friends and neighbours and asking for $10 a month for a tax increase,” said Coun. Jeff Richards, asking what the increased budget is for.
City manager Mathew Warren noted only one new position is being budgeted for, in the parks department, with the increase largely going towards infrastructure needs and projects.
The proposed projects or needs were broken down by department. For public works, they propose replacing the traffic lights at Government Road and First Avenue, and installing new traffic lights at 16th Street and First Avenue, with asphalt rehabilitation on First Avenue, from Government Road to Second Street.
For the City’s fleet, they propose buying a tandem dump truck, replacing a street sweeper and buying a new mower for the parks department. In the Planning and Development department, they want to complete a review of the off-site development levy, and to provide building inspections for the construction of the new Weyburn hospital.
Engineering wants to do traffic studies and assess roadways, as well as do a downtown revitalization conceptual plan.
For other infrastructure projects, there are plans to replace the sidewalk in a number of areas, including Coteau Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Barber Crescent, 10th Street and Bison Avenue, along with asphalt on Prairie Avenue from Government Road west to Mergens Street, and asphalt on Railway Avenue from Fifth to Eighth Streets, as well as replacing the curb and gutter and paving Moore Street.
At the landfill, the city wants to do concrete crushing to increase available space at the landfill, and begin construction of the phase 1 engineering cell.
For utilities, the city will do construction of upgrades at Lift Station 1 and lagoon for flood mitigation; watermain replacement on Railway Avenue and Moore Street; and continuing the replacement of valves, catch basins and hydrants as needed.
Leisure and Parks are proposing a rebuild of the boardwalk walkway, increased funding for the library and roof replacement, and conceptual planning for the proposed park on the former Haig School site.
The police department will see implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement, replacing a half-ton truck and replacing the air conditioning system for the building.
