Proposed 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets available for Public Review

The City of Yorkton has unveiled its proposed 2022 budget, which includes a tax increase total of $1,235,000 (or 4.86%).

The proposed budget outlines the City’s plan to invest in city assets and infrastructure upgrades, and continue to provide the same level of services to residents as the year prior. A large portion of the budget will also go towards an increase in policing costs, due to a new collective agreement signed between the Federal Government and the RCMP.

The breakdown of the proposed increase can be found below, including the approximate impact for the average residential property in Yorkton:

• RCMP Contract – 2.36%
• Decrease in Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant (PST) – 0.50%
• All Department Operations – 1%
• Capital Projects – 1%

This represents an increase of roughly $8.11 a month for property tax for the average resident, or roughly twice that for an equally valued commercial property.

With regards to our Water Utility, this budget includes the previously approved 3% increase to water rates as well as the $1 a month increase to residential water base charge. Residents will see an increase of approximately $2.30 a month towards their utility bills. This increase allows the City to better keep on top of its aging underground infrastructure.

RCMP Contract (2.36%)

A new agreement was ratified between the RCMP and the Federal government, which came with it a total cost to the City of Yorkton upwards of $2.1 million. The largest portion of this is retro pay, for which the City had been saving towards in the RCMP budget for a number of years. The City has saved $785,000 in reserves for policing, however, this is not enough to cover the $1.4 million of retro pay, which is a one-time expense. The remaining amount is to be funded from other general reserves.

Municipal Revenue Sharing (0.50%)

Annually, the City receives revenue from the province by the Municipal Revenue Sharing grant. This comes in the form of a share of PST revenue. The Provincial Government takes a portion of all PST revenue, and allocates it to municipalities. As PST revenues have decreased as a result of economic slowdown, the City’s share of this has likewise decreased. The effect on the City’s budget includes $137,000 of lost revenues, or roughly half a percent of taxation.

Operating Budget (1%)

The Operating Budget includes the operations of all departments within the City. This year’s budget was kept to a 1% increase, or roughly $255,000. This includes everything from Public Works, Parks, and Fire Protective Services to Corporate Services. This was a challenge in a year where inflation has peaked at nearly 4.5%. As well, the challenges of COVID are still present with the City seeing lower revenues for many recreation facilities, with usage down due to the pandemic. The City is using some of its COVID Safe Restart grant funding to offset this.

The burden of a budget increase on taxpayers was kept in mind throughout the entire budget process, resulting in a minimum increase on operations.

Capital Projects (1%)

The Capital Budget includes a 1% increase in taxes, or roughly an addition of $255,000. This will bring the annual capital total to $4,645,000 for 2022. Since this is a 2 year capital budget there is a 1% (minimum) increase for 2023 towards capital as well.

Some large 2022 Capital items include the York Road project, upgrades to the Gallagher Centre Ice Plant and the Deer Park Clubhouse. 

Projects proposed in the 2023 budget include upgrades to the Kinsmen Arena Ice Systems/Rink Slab, upgrades to the Water Tower and a new Pump Bike Park.

More information about the budget, including a detailed listing of capital projects can be found at www.yorkton.ca/budget.

The City encourages the public to review the budget and provide any comments or questions through the public review form available online, which will be open until February 14 at 12 p.m. The results will be presented to City Council at the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, February 14.