It's official. The latest budget for the Town of Kindersley has been approved by town council and features some changes.

Town council's first budget of the term will see a mill rate drop of more than 5 mills to 9.7. According to council and administration, the mill rate drop was due to a significant increase in property assessments in Kindersley, many of which were close to double the value of the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency's (SAMA) assessments conducted four years ago.

Although, several new properties joining the tax roll in 2017 aided in lowering the mill rate while still achieving near equivalent tax revenue. The mill rate is a figure which represents the amount per $1,000 of the assessed value of a property, which is used to calculate the amount of property tax.

Another major focus set in the budget is on slowed spending for a number of programs while maintaining focus on the building project for the new aquatic facility.

$6.35 million has been dedicated to the project with around $1.3 million set aside in reserves. Council have also approved a capital loan of up to $3.5 million to cover ther rest of the costs. Although, council and administration are hoping those remaining funds will be collected through sponsorships and fundraising.

Other major capital projects will receive funding besides the new pool during the fiscal year as well. Such programs include the town's portion of the new regional landfill ($745,000), the new wastewater lagoon ($5 million), and regular paving and sidewalk reconstruction ($1.15 million).

Overall, Kindersley’s 2017 budget anticipates a surplus of $248,336 after loans and transfers from reserves.

Notable factors and how taxpayers will be affected

The newest budget will feature a reduction in employee wages of $300,000, and transfers to the town's reserves in the amount of $950,680. These funds will contribute to projects such as the fire hall, fire truck, and future utility development.

Funding for the town will be impacted by cuts to the province’s grants in lieu program as well. Approximately $33 million less funding was distributed to Saskatchewan municipalities in 2017 in the forms of grants paid to local municipalities in lieu of property taxes for provincial lands and buildings.

As for the majority of taxpayers, there will be less than $100 in increases to their respective municipal tax levy. Around 10 per cent of residential taxpayers will experience an increase of more than $100. However, all taxpayers will pay an average increase of $200 per household in education tax, an amount which was set by the provincial government earlier this year.

Residents should be confident in the town's fiscal health heading into the new budget. $9,128,985 has been recorded in the town's reserves as of December 31, 2016. At the end of this year, council expects total reserves will be set at $7,852,261.

As an example for other communities in Saskatchewan, the table below demonstrates the tax levy increases felt by municipalities across the province:

Regina

6.50%

Yorkton

9.46%

Melfort

4.07%

Saskatoon

4.82%

Melville

8.36%

Humboldt

6.40%

Nipawin

2.20%

Eston

5.00%

Other highlights from Kindersley's 2017 budget

The town's total capital grant funding will be set at $3,874,250. Other projects and programs contributing to the budget include:

  • New indoor aquatic centre ($6,350,000)
  • Wastewater lagoon and sewer main ($5,000,000)
  • Western Regional Landfill development ($750,000)
  • Replacement of Main Street traffic lights ($200,000)
  • Paving of airport helipad access and runways ($116,600)
  • Improvements to Norman Ritchie Community Centre ($86,900)
  • Kinsmen Park upgrades ($40,000)
  • Westberry soccer pitch ($70,000)
  • Long-term debt repayment of $865,648

In addition, the following programs and accounts will see a reduction or have seen a loss:

  • $203,837 reduction in operating grants
  • Revenue Sharing Grant (reduction of $101,000)
  • SaskEnergy revenue (loss of $72,500)

For more information on the Kindersley 2017 budget, visit the link here which will direct you to the town's website: www.kindersley.ca/budget.

 

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