Yorkton Council approved the City Five-Year Capital Plan at its regular meeting Monday in order to fulfill requirements to receive dollars through the Gas Tax Fund.
“The City of Yorkton has been receiving annual funding from the Gas Tax Fund since the 2006 fiscal year,” said Amber Matechuk, City Controller. “…We receive approximately $900,000 annually from this Federal grant which goes toward the Capital Budget.”
Funding has been used on projects such as the Highway #9 Intersection Improvements (2006 – 2007), Street Light Improvements (2007 – 2008 – 2009), Broadway and Bradbrooke Reconstruction (2010 – 2011) and Storm Water Management project (Drainage project).
There are however requirements in order to receive the funding.
“Under the Municipal Gas Tax Fund Agreement (MGTFA), that has been signed and approved by the City of Yorkton, we are required to provide the Province with a five-year Capital Plan, beginning in 2015 and continuing on an annual basis. This five-year Capital Plan is due annually on March 31st. Also per the MGTFA the Capital Plan must be approved by the Municipal Council.,” explained Matechuk.
The plan is not one set in stone however.
“The original plan was presented to Council on April 2, 2012 with a revision presented on March 9, 2015,” said Matechuk.
“The March 9, 2015 plan has been further revised to include new projects and remove projects that were completed in 2015.”
And the plan may well change.
“As this is only a general plan to meet the requirements of the MGTFA it is not exactly the same as the 2016 Capital Budget. Administration will continue to revise the five-year Capital Plan on an annual basis as priorities and costs are determined, and present it to Council for approval,” explained Matechuk.