The revenue side was the focus Monday of the latest Town of Battleford budget deliberation session.
And as expected, revenues are flat.
Projected total revenues are anticipated at $5,346.766 for 2014, compared to figures of $5,453,755.20 in 2013.
Also, general operating expenditures are anticipated to go up to $4,851,527 in 2014, compared to $3,563,724.10 in actual numbers in 2013.
Mayor Derek Mahon notes that, as expected, revenues from the municipal operating grant are down slightly - $25,457 from $909,226 to $883,769.
"We knew that was going to be lower than it was last year," said Mahon.
The municipal operating grant is calculated on a formula tied to one per cent of the PST.
"As the PST collection went down the revenue sharing went down as well," Mahon explains.
There are some notable expenditure increases for the Town as well. Wages are going up $34,048, library requisition up $3,902, costs for the RCMP are up $19,878 and handi-bus grant funding is reduced $10,488.
Along with other increases, the total comes to $108,798.
One item that will help, Mahon noted, is an additional $30,000 of tax revenue from homes that had been built by taking advantage of a building incentive. Those homes will be joining the tax roll this year.
The total municipal tax levy is anticipated to be $2,610,716, a change from $2,581,452.91 from actual numbers in 2013. Once abatements, discounts and tax arrear penalties are brought in, total taxes are estimated at $2,407,216 for 2014 compared to $2,352,628.79 in 2013.
Those are based on numbers presented Monday. Mahon cautions many of the numbers could change.
"This is all part of the process we go through," he said.
In terms of other estimated revenues, the town poured over some of the revenue numbers for 2014 from the various facilities.
Revenue for 2014 from skating rink fees is estimated at $125,000, with arena donations at $9,500, $10,000 from the Tot Lot, $10,500 for the ball diamonds and $70,000 for the campground. Those projections are not too much different from actual numbers in 2013.
An estimated $34,000 in revenue is anticipated from community hall fees (Alex Dillabough Centre), and revenue from cemetery fees is estimated at $15,000. Waste collection fees are anticipated to bring in revenue around $270,000.
Monday's session was the third of the 2014 budget process. Mayor Mahon anticipates the next step is for some more reworking of the numbers by administration, followed by the presentation of the full budget document to town council for likely approval April 21, during their regular meeting that night.
There could still be another review session before that happens, the mayor added.
It will be at that point decisions will be known on taxes, as well as which projects the Town will take on in 2014. Those decisions will impact on the final budget for 2014.
Mahon told the Regional Optimist the town will be looking at the capital budget and setting the priorities for projects.
"There's been a number of items identified and some of them will be multiyear projects so you don't have to spend all the money in the current year, so, as those roll out, there will be a funding plan attached to them."
