city budget 2019 dec17

The City of Swift Current's 2019 municipal budget 'Striving For Excellence' was unveiled tonight, which includes a 2.9 per cent tax increase for the year ahead.

That tax hike equates to an extra $4.07 per month or a $49 for 2019 on a house assessed at $280,000.

"We're trying to give the best services we can for a fair price to our citizens," Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault said. "I believe this budget accomplishes that, with a very modest change to taxation. That was the challenge we as a council put forth to our admin team and in my opinion they absolutely delivered it."

The capital budget (that's split into five components) will consume just over half of the increase at 1.6 per cent.

1. Growth ($11.175 million) - In 2019 the City has budgeted for four major growth projects - Infrastructure Expansion in Northeast (8.5 million), Oman School Site Development (750,000), Centennial Market District ($150,000), and Recreation, Parks & Culture Plan ($50,000).

2. Connectivity ($4.57 million) - Six large projects under connectivity have funds earmarked for them - Asphalt & Concrete Programs ($2.26 million), Intersection Improvement ($550,000), CPR Weir ($400,000), 2nd Avenue Overpass Stairs ($150,000), Airport Master Plan Update ($75,000), and Chinook Parkway Development Northeast ($67,000).

3. Utility Services ($3.581 million) - Three big projects have been identified under the utility services portion of the budget - System Improvement ($552,040), South Hill Pressure Zone ($300,000), and East Landfill Compost ($25,000).

4. Corporate ($2.853 million) - The City has budgeted for two big purchases in the corporate department in 2019 - Fleet Additions ($340,000) and Outdoor Electronic Billboard ($100,000).

5. Community ($1.986 million) - Seven projects under the community category are budgeted for upgrades - Kinetic Park Grandstand ($165,000), Swift Current British Commonwealth Air Training Plan ($79,500), Ford Field Conversion ($60,000), Fairview West Arena Lighting ($45,000), City Pound Upgrades ($33,500), CJFB TV Cassette Digitization ($25,000), and Positive Pressure Ventilation Fan ($5,000).

The remaining 1.3 per cent of the increase will be funnelled into the Operating Budget, which will allow the City to increase the number of employees for the City RCMP and themselves.

"Our RCMP, our local detachment has in the past requested more teammates," Perrault said. "I'm very proud this year we're able to deliver two new teammates to their roster. That's part of our safe and caring community, so that when people do call and do need help we've got the resources available."

The City will also hire a Partnerships and Events Coordinator and also an attendant for the Lt. Colonel Clifton Centre and Dickson Community Centre.

"Over the last few years we actually saw no change to our FTE's (full-time employees)," he said. "A lot of it has to do with the growth, our community is in growth mode. We've got more people here today than we had yesterday and we will have more people tomorrow... 2019 is bringing a lot of events, but 2018 had actually a lot, and we're anticipating more going forward. Having somebody that can quarterback all of those, having somebody that can be that lead will be a key position for our community."

During the last six-years the City has had a financial strategy portion of the budget which has inflated the tax increase in past budgets (13.14% in 2018 and 8.76% in 2017), but moving forward Mayor Perrault doesn't believe taxpayers will have to deal with major hikes like those.

"We were trying to take our reliance away from debt and the goal really is to use our light and power dividend to use it for capital projects in the year that's our goal," he said. "In the past, that light and power dividend was effectively subsidizing operations. That completed last year and that's to our advantage, that wasn't easy, and you're right we did see some larger than usual tax changes over the last few years, but that's complete now. We're in a better position today than where we were, while still maintaining the lowest taxes in the province across all cities."

This was the second consecutive year that city council has released the budget before the year began, a promise Mayor Perrault ran on.

"This year we toured (our city) and in the first and second week of September," he explained. "Then have budget deliberations towards the tail end of September into October all in an effort, and it's a very determined effort, to be able to deliver a budget before a year starts. To me it didn't make sense to have budgets delivered in March, when you're three months into your year... Your risk is you don't know what's coming in March, there could be provincial changes and we as a community will do our very best if there is any."

Tuesday morning the Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce will host the 'State of the City - Mayor's Address' at Living Sky Casino Events Centre where Mayor Perrault will introduce the budget to the public in attendance.