Taxes in Humboldt might be going up more this year than council originally planned.
Humboldt City Council are closer to sewing up the 2013 budget after a special meeting of council March 25.
After the last budget meeting, council had $160,000 left to cut from the budget in order for it to balance.
During the weeks leading up to the meeting, Director of Finance Steve Brown looked closely at the budget to find creative ways to cut more money or defer unnecessary items.
When he brought the budget back to council on March 25, in order to balance it council would only have to find funds to cover or items to defer to balance the remaining $93,623 expenditure.
"Last week, the announcement for the revenue sharing (being more than anticipated) helped add more funds to our budget," explained Brown.
The Provincial Government announced a 1.14 per cent increase in the amount available to communities in Saskatchewan through the Municipal Revenue Sharing. This increased the amount the City will receive to $1,207,572.
Council decided to defer the Community Hall folding doors in the Uniplex for another year, cutting another $25,000 out of the budget.
Brown suggested cutting out the emergency funds of $20,000, set aside in case of unlikely situations such as a road completely falling apart.
Council then discussed the possibility of increasing property taxes.
"We could look at doing more than a three per cent increase," said Mayor Malcolm Eaton.
Eaton explained that numerous cities and towns across the province have been implementing four to five per cent increases this year, so it wouldn't be out of line for Humboldt to do the same.
"I already see three per cent as a big increase," said Coun. Sandy Weyland. "It is significant, but I guess we might have to go up to four to help with the deficit."
Other council members agreed that a larger increase would help, most stating a 4.5 increase would not be out of line.
"It is a good year for it since it is assessment year and we don't know whose taxes will go up or down anyway," said Coun. Leon Fleischhacker.
After council agreed to a 4.5 per cent increase, Brown said he would come back at the next meeting with possible base tax and mill rate increases for council to look at.
