By Greg Nikkel
Weyburn city council approved the 2016 operating budget which will see a property tax increase of 2.9 per cent on the municipal portion of taxes, with no increase to the base tax.
What the increase will translate to, for a homeowner with a residence of an assessed value of $250,000, would be an increase of $18.55. Their tax bill would include $652.05 for the municipal portion of taxes, $880.25 for the school portion, plus the base tax of $600 and the hospital levy of $140, for a total tax bill of $2,272.30.
Broken down by department, finance and administration will see a decrease in the net operating budget of 2.3 per cent, with a salary increase of three per cent, and a decrease in tax incentive programs due to fewer projected projects.
The Weyburn Police Service will have a decrease in their net operating budget of 0.8 per cent, a salary increase of three per cent, an addition to the fleet and new IT systems, and a decrease in federal and provincial grants of $167,000. Their budget for 2016 will total $2.7 million.
For the Fire Department, there is a decrease in the net operating budget of 2.3 per cent to $999,536 with a salary increase of 3.5 per cent. The brigade will have a salary increase of 15.3 per cent.
The Leisure Services department will have a decrease in the net operating budget of 1.2 per cent to $2.59 million.
Highlights for the department include new LED lights and control panel at Crescent Point Place, a new spray park in River Park to open in July, a replacement of the Don Mitchell Paddling Pool to open by July 1, new lights at Jubilee Park with upgrades to the east washrooms, the acquisition of the Soo Line Historical Museum, and paying off various internal loans totalling $127,300. In addition, there is free skating at the Sports Arena every Sunday and weekday afternoons, and free swimming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over summer.
The engineering and planning department will see an increase in the net operating budget of $180,000 to $395,004, and will have a new sewage aeration system at the lagoon, as well as improvements to the water treatment plant. Water and sewer rates went up 10 per cent on Jan. 1, and there will be a landfill study to determine the current state of liability and the future of the landfill.
In Works and Parks, there will be an increase in the budget of 4.0 per cent to $3.39 million. Highlights include a pedestrian crossing at First Avenue and 18th Street, removing break-away bolts on street lights to prevent future repairs, and extensive work on storm channel clearing.
The post office bell monument will be completed in 2016, there will be a new washroom for Tom Laing Park, and a new play space in Elks Park.
The five-year parks plan will be finalized, and crews will continue with overall city cleanup and painting of signs, railings and hydrants.
