It's the lowest tax increase Yorkton residents have seen in the last ten years said city councillors Monday evening before voting in favor of a 2.5 per cent tax hike for 2011.
Delivering and approving a budget much earlier than in past years, it was council's goal since June for administration to prepare a budget with a maximum increase of 2.5 per cent. With the help of additional provincial funding, administration achieved the goal.
Each department head had the opportunity to highlight the passing year and to talk about what lies ahead before council made any final decisions.
Open 363 days a year and hosting over 760 events so far in 2010, the Yorkton Gallagher Centre is proving its worth in the city said Manager Don Kunkel to councillors.
"During 2011 we hope to build on our previous growth, complete some major maintenance and repairs to some of the outside facilities on the site and continue to strive to deliver top quality service to our users."
The current year has also been one of accomplishments for the city's Fire Protective Services Department said Fire Chief Dean Clark.
With the new fire hall now complete the department is looking ahead to new initiatives and to enhancing services. "In reviewing our 2010 budget we were able to take monies for completed initiatives and move it into new initiatives with no increase to the 2011 budget," says Clark.
Fire prevention, public education and increased training for firefighters is all on the horizon for 2011.
The RCMP budget will see a slight increase for 2011 says S/Sgt. Joe Milburn.
"The budget for the next fiscal year is $3,035,702, which is a slight increase from last year. This amount provides for 27 full time members. The province funds three of these positions and makes payments back to the City of Yorkton throughout the year to cover those costs."
Public safety, crime reduction and youth programs will continue to be a focus in 2011 for local RCMP members.
Darcy McLeod spoke to council on behalf of the Community Development, Parks & Recreation Department.
There were three notable accomplishments in 2010 he said. One was the city's action taken following the Canada Day flood. Another, the grand community celebration held to mark the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the third, the city's new bike lanes and steps towards creating an more active, healthy environment for Yorkton residents.
With a lengthy list of upcoming projects for 2011, McLeod says the coming year will be busy and productive.
The Public Works Department has been working to maintain and improve local roadways and facilities. "Moving forward into 2011, short-term and long-term action plans will be developed prioritizing future operational and capital projects on the basis of risk assessment and criticality of deficiencies identified for each facility," says department head Trent Mandziuk.
The completion of Yorkton's newest water treatment facility will be another big accomplishment for 2010 says Michael Bucholzer on behalf of the Environmental Services Department. Set to be complete within the next three weeks, water is now being processed and staff are preparing for a complete changeover.
For 2011, says Bucholzer, "the budget remains the same as last year with a 2.5 per cent increase to offset wages and material purchase increases.
"Therefore, to facilitate these increases to our operation, meet debt payments and allow for infrastructure growth, the department has incorporated a 2.5 per cent water rate increase for 2011. This proposed increase reflected on the water bill for an average family of four will be approximately $1.80 per month, or in turn, the monthly average water and sewer charge for a family of four would be $83 per month. As of 2010, Yorkton ranked 7th out of the 15 cities in residential water rates."
In 2011 the Environmental Department is also recommending changes in funding for the local landfill to create a self-sufficient operation. That will mean a commercial rate increase from $9 to $21 a tonne and adding $1 per tonne to tipping fees.
In the aftermath of the flood and with a renewed interest in city property, Gord Shaw, of the Planning and Engineering Department says significant building in the city is on the horizon. The department is looking to hire a full time Geographic Information System Specialist as well as a new Manager of Building Services.
"Improving the deliverability of the existing system along with better data collection will help in the future capital budgeting and asset management for the municipality," says Shaw."
Economic Development will be a continued focus in 2011. A three year strategic plan has been developed and a final draft will be brought forward for council's approval in December. Planned for 2011 is the development of a Business Retention and Expansion Program; the exploration of new strategic partnerships and promotion of the city.
Human resource wise, City Clerk Bonnie Schenher says the growth the city has been seeing necessitates the hiring of new staff.
"As the City is growing so does our workload and increasingly the day to day tasks are taking up more of our work time and we are finding it difficult to get ahead," says Schenher. The city will be looking to hire a communications and web design person as well as three additional administration staff members.
Only councillor Chris Wyatt was opposed to the idea of additional staff, particularly when it comes to to marketing and communications. It's Wyatt's belief the job of marketing Yorkton should be that of mayors.
In the end a 2.5 per cent tax increase was approved and both the 2011 Operating budget (in the amount of $20,319,000) and the Capital Budget (totalling $13,378,760) were adopted by council.
The increase translates to roughly $2.92 per month or $35 per year for a residential dwelling and $70 per year for a commercial property with a $100,000 assessment value.
"It's a reasonable increase," said Lonnie Kaal, Director of Finance, given the increase in costs that have arisen.
