On the heels of Monday closures due to provincial budget cuts, the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum's Board of Directors recently approved further steps that will compensate for its budgetary constraints in its 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The past four provincial budget allocations to the WDM have not matched the realities of inflation such as the rising costs of the utilities, goods and services purchased by the Museum says Joan Champ, the Executive Director of the WDM. As a result of a freeze in its budget, the WDM is facing a $465,000 deficit in its operating budget for the upcoming year.
"Management and the Board have examined many options in the past few weeks to address our budget shortfall. Our main concern is to ensure that we make decisions that are best for the people our Museum serves - including our 200,000 annual visitors as well as our dedicated staff and volunteers. We do regret any inconvenience or hardships that will result."
The following decisions will be implemented immediately:
1. Increase in the Admission fees at three of the four WDMs. Increase in the admission fees at the Yorkton WDM will be implemented in September 2012.
2. Three of five positions will remain unfilled. Two positions will be filled in the fall. This will save about $200,000.
3. Administration and some Managers and staff at the Curatorial Centre have agreed to take an unpaid leave of absence of at least one two-week pay period. This sacrifice has saved the WDM from having to consider lay-offs of at least one full-time employee.
4. Departments will cut their budgets from five per cent to 10 per cent.
5. Monday closures at all four Branches.
The WDM has:
200,000 visitors a year; 2,000 members; 1,200 volunteers; 66,000 volunteer hours in 2011; $700,000 in self generated revenue; 80,000 artifacts; 540,00 square feet of building space ( in five locations, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton and the Curatorial Center).
