In a recent address to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) annual convention, Premier Brad Wall said the government will be keeping its promise to provide annual revenue sharing equal to a full point of the provincial sales tax (PST).
That means Saskatchewan municipalities will receive revenue sharing of $216.8 million in 2011-12, an increase of about $90 million or 70 per cent since 2007-08. Urban municipalities - Saskatchewan's cities, towns, villages and resort communities - will receive $138.7 million this year, an increase of 105 per cent since 2007-08.
With aging infrastructure and a growing economy this is good news, provided, the dollar amount will suffice.
"The completion of this important promise means that urban revenue sharing has more than doubled since our government took office," Wall says.
"We're working with our municipal partners to keep Saskatchewan growing and moving forward."
According to the provincial government this year's revenue sharing is the highest amount of operational funding provided to municipalities in the history of Saskatchewan and given that we're living in unprecedented times, it could be said that it's warranted.
The new funding formula will provides a predictable, sustainable way to ensure municipalities know the amount they will receive in the coming years says Wall adding, "This will help municipalities with their future planning as they work to improve their communities and the great quality of life we all enjoy in Saskatchewan."
In addition to the increase in municipal revenue sharing, the Premier announced $22 million to go toward flood prevention measures in the province.
Outside Saskatchewan's borders uncertainty looms but it seems thus far at least, we're powering through the storm.
