The City of Estevan is taking a wait and see approach to the 2012 provincial budget.
Although there were a couple of items included in the budget they were very happy about, there are a couple of other issues they have some questions and concerns about.
Mayor Gary St. Onge said he was pleased to see the budget did include $10 million in funding to get the heavy truck bypass started. It's believed the funding will be for land purchase and initial earthwork.
"It's good to see it in there because once it is announced in (the budget) you know it's going ahead," St. Onge said. "It's good to know we are moving ahead."
St. Onge added he was also happy to see the provincial government address the rental housing shortage in the budget. A new rental housing construction initiative, which will provide a 10-year rebate of corporate income tax, was included in last Wednesday's announcement. The rebate will be equal to 10 per cent of the expected rental income from any new residential rental projects in the province.
"I think that will make a difference with the other programs together," St. Onge said. "Of course we give what works out to $5,000 a door. And if you own the apartment, you are going to save on the taxes for awhile. It's just another incentive to try and get more rental housing in the province, so I like that as well."
While St. Onge said the City was pleased with those two announcements, they do have questions about a couple of other items that were included in Finance Minister Ken Krawetz's budget.
In particular St. Onge and City manager Jim Puffalt said they, and many other communities in the province, are wondering what the elimination of Enterprise Saskatchewan will mean for the area.
After making Enterprise Saskatchewan a major component of their successful 2007 election platform, the government, to the surprise of many, announced that all funding to the program was being halted as of March 31. It's estimated $4 million will be saved annually.
Puffalt said the Saskatchewan South East Enterprise Region was currently working on some important issues such as a study on the housing needs in the area and a transportation corridor which would be the first in the province. The status of those projects is currently up in the air.
"We've received no indication of anything other than what has been released publicly," Puffalt said. "I think they are saying that perhaps municipalities could pick it up but one week to do all that seems a little bit excessive.
"They were doing that housing study for us so I am trying to find out what the status is on that. They were also working on the corridor which is way too big for one municipality to look after."
The City is also waiting to hear whether or not the rehabilitation of Souris Avenue and 13th Avenue will proceed this year. The City and province, through the Urban Connectors Program, have agreed on a cost-sharing arrangement to rehabilitate the road. The only question, and one that still remains following the budget, is will that work take place this year or in 2013? The 2012 budget included just $7.9 million to continue "rehabilitation and road maintenance with partner municipalities."
St. Onge said that amount would likely only cover the Estevan project so he remains unsure if the work will proceed this year.
"There is a certain amount of money in (the budget) for the Urban Highways Connectors Program, but it doesn't say what it's for."
