Mayor's view of budget

Yorkton Mayor James Wilson isn't raving about last week's provincial budget, but he's not disappointed either.

The budget announced that provincial funding for enterprise regions will be discontinued, saving $4 million this year.

The end of enterprise regions is not a huge impact for Yorkton, said Wilson.

"We have our own economic development committee We have our own economic developed officer," he said. "For us the impact isn't that dramatic."

Announced following the budget that Tourism Saskatchewan will become a Crown Corporation, is something Wilson said he wants to see more details on, in particular how it might impact what Tourism Yorkton does (see related story this issue).

"We have to meet with Tourism Yorkton to get a real solid understanding of the impact on the industry," he said.

The budget also announced Film Employment Tax Credit will be wound down, a move that will eventually save $8 million annually. The change could impact film companies in the province (see related story above), and even the Yorkton Film Festival.

Wilson said it is another aspect of the budget he wants to monitor, adding he is confident the reputation of the local film festival will allow it to remain successful.

In terms of transfers to the City, Wilson said Yorkton will receive a small shortfall from what it had budgeted, but said it will not cause an increase to taxpayers.

"We'll manage the shortfall within the budget. We'll look for some efficiencies to make it up."

Looking ahead to 2015 when provincial accounting will change, Wilson said the cities will want to be talking to the Department of Municipal Affair to make sure regardless of how the provincial sales tax is reported, "the dollars come out the same."

Wilson said there are several areas where the City is left looking to the future.

"Obviously there's nothing on infrastructure (funding) in the budget." he said, adding he "feels comfortable we'll see something" in the future, hopefully with federal participation too.

Wilson also sees money for a Parkland College expansion in Yorkton as a future thing.

"We knew there would be no money in the budget for the college," he said, adding it's only been in the planning stage for two years. " We know it takes longer to plan than to do it."

Wilson said he is also eager to see "all the details" of newly announced Primary Health Care funding, adding "we hope Yorkton will be selected as one of the projects."