Following a presentation by the city's director of finance, Lonnie Kaal, Monday evening Yorkton City Council members voted in favor of tabling the 2014 budget, allowing time for the public to view and comment before it officially passes.
If passed at the next meeting of council on November 4, residents will be looking at a five and a half per cent increase, which for the average home (valuing average at $200,000) equates to an additional $72 per year.
"I think when people look at the numbers, I think this really reflects a move that was made by council a number of years ago... we are putting in to maintaining the infrastructure in our city. It's been a long term commitment of council and previous mayors... we need to invest the money to look after our infrastructure," said Mayor Bob Maloney at Mondays' council meeting. "It's getting more and more expensive and unfortunately we get only eight cents on the tax dollar allotted to government in Canada and we've got a lot of work to do with that eight cents. Maintaining the status quo on taxes just doesn't work for us. We have to get the work done and I know the community has been very supportive of that... I hope they will continue to be supportive."
Improving and maintaining infrastructure will in turn bring more business and more jobs to Yorkton said Maloney as he thanked administration for due dilligence and the work that goes into putting together a workable budget.
Among the reasons cited for the increase on the operating side of the budget was the addition of an RCMP officer, increased snow removal costs, street cleaning, grass cutting and line painting.
On the capital side, drainage issues took a big toll.
Capital projects requiring tax dollars in the amount of $3,580,000 are proposed for 2014, says Kaal - $1,560,000 of that slated for drainage issues.
"Significant dollars have been allocated to drainage in recent years and the costs continue," adds Kaal. And the work must continue.
Curbs, sidewalks and roadway improvements have also been slated as well as further improvements to the airport.
"The city has made good progress increasing the capital budget to maintain and replace existing assets... All cities will require more funding for capital improvements to fix infrastructure as we go forward. Yorkton has made good progress in this regard..."
The 2014 budget will be available for viewing in its entirety on the City of Yorkton websit: www.yorkton.ca.
