By Greg Nikkel
Weyburn city council passed their 2017 operating budget with a mill rate increase of 2.74 per cent, and bid a farewell to one of the longest-serving city managers in its history, as Bob Smith attended his last meeting before he finishes his position on Friday, March 17 after nearly 20 years at the helm in City Hall.
“We are seeing some great work again going ahead to make our city the city we’re used to seeing,” said Coun. Winston Bailey in commenting on the budget process. “This increase is very justified in what our citizens are telling us they want our standards to be. I believe we could still see some adjustments in some things for projects or equipment in the coming year.”
Coun. Jeff Chessall said his first budget as a councillor was “a definite learning curve” that was quite interesting for him.
“Bob, I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done over the years,” added Coun. Dick Michel. “The managers of all the departments did a tremendous job, and the citizens of Weyburn should be very proud.”
Mayor Marcel Roy agreed that all of the staff worked very hard to prepare this budget for council to consider, and suggested that next year’s budget will look different, pointing out that a new policy of the current council is to have the budget done by the end of December. “I think there will be some discussions in council in the coming months, as Coun. Bailey said.”
Mayor Roy added that considering how other cities have come in much higher in their tax increases, “our staff has worked very hard to bring this in the way it should be.”
Some of the highlights for the City’s 2017 budget include, for administration, the launching of a new website and a reduction in provincial revenue-sharing of five per cent or $106,000. The police department will see some additional IT upgrades and purchase a new vehicle; the fire department has proposed the purchase of a new pumper truck; and at the Weyburn Leisure Centre, there is a proposal to replace the waterslide and front administration counter, some work on the museum’s exterior, and painting the exterior of the historic water tower.
The engineering department wants to complete its study of the landfill, begin construction of the city’s new $16 million reservoir, and do upgrades to the reservoir on First Avenue. The works and parks department is looking to purchase an accessible swing for the Elks Park playground, to do upgrades to the water standpipe building, and make additions to the city fleet, including a front-end loader, a tandem gravel truck, a one-tonne crew cab, a crew cab 4X4 and a mower.
The city’s base tax will be unchanged at $600 for every single family property and condo, a total of 4,218 properties, to cover a three-per-cent increase for police, a 0.2 per cent increase for snow removal, and a decrease of 5.6 per cent for the fire department, with expenses for the three services totalling $5,011,807.
For an average city home with an assessed value of $250,000, the breakdown of taxes works out to an increase of $17.95 or a tax increase of 0.8 per cent, assuming the school taxes do not change.
For this average home, the city portion of taxes would be $670, the school portion would be $880.25, plus the base tax of $600 and the hospital levy of $140, for a total tax bill of $2,290.25.
The total net budget by department shows the works and parks department receiving the biggest portion of the budget of $3,475,749 or 33 per cent, followed by the police department at $2,784,630 or 26.5 per cent, Leisure services at $2,633,945 or 25.1 per cent, the fire department at $943,827 or nine per cent, engineering at $441,872 or 4.2 per cent and planning is at $231,075 or 2.2 per cent. The net budget is the balance not funded by the department’s own revenues, and is funded by tax revenue and government grants.
Members of council made their final comments about the service of Bob Smith at his last meeting with the City of Weyburn before he finishes on March 17.
Calling himself the “grandfather” of council, Coun. Dick Michel noted that Bob has been with the city since October of 1997, and is leaving the City of Weyburn in a solid financial position under his management.
He also noted Bob has been quite active in the community, serving for such events as the Royal Bank Cup and the Summer Games, with the Kinsmen and numerous curling events.
“Time does fly. This will be my 17th budget with you as the city manager, and over the years you’ve given me valuable advice and information. Your door was always open. We did butt heads a few times, but you always showed a strong passion you have for the City and for its residents,” he said, adding Weyburn is the envy of other cities in Saskatchewan as a result of his leadership.
City clerk Donette Richter said Bob has “led by example” in the years she’s known him as the top administrator.
“It’s been an amazing 19-plus years. I’ve learned a lot, as much as I’ve given advice,” said Bob in his final comments, pointing out his job was made much easier because of the high calibre of abilities of the staff in the City’s various departments and at City Hall.
“Everybody’s been professional, and truly the City of Weyburn and the community are blessed to have the staff they do. I worked on behalf of the community, it’s all for the community. I just can’t say enough about the staff. My job’s a lot easier when you have competent people to working with you, and I’ve had that for the last 19 years,” said Bob.
He added this was also the case with the various city councils he’s worked with, as his job has been to provide them with all of the information they need in order to make their decisions for the residents of Weyburn.
“It’s tough to leave after being here for nearly 20 years, with relationships both professional and personal, and good friends I’ve had with council and staff. It’s a tough decision to leave, but we’re always going to come back and visit. I thank the community for the support. It’s a great community to work, to live in and raise a family in, and we’ve been fortunate to live here.”
