Swift Current budget will increase average household taxes by $10.83 per month
A series of pressing infrastructure needs, combined with increased operational expenses beyond the city’s control, has resulted in Swift Current City Council passing a budget which will cost the average homeowner an additional $130 in yearly municipal taxes.
Council approved a $85,283,800 budget at their February 13 meeting, with the capital expenditure budget rising 4.7 per cent to $26,585,849, and the operating budget climbs 3.4 per cent to $28,681,095.
“The actual impact of the budget is the bottom line of 8.76 per cent or $10.83 per month on an average,” explained Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault following Monday’s budget presentation.
Municipal taxes went up a total of 14.1 per cent (a 3.4 per cent higher operating budget, a 4.7 per cent higher capital budget, and an additional 6.0 per cent as the city continues with their financial strategy adjustment). However, that total is offset by a levy differential change of $65 less per year. Swift Current taxpayers had been paying $100 per year to complete payment for the Cypress Regional Hospital, but with that financial commitment completed this past year, city residents are now paying $35 per year over 30 years to complete the municipal portion of the financing of The Meadows.
“Try hard to not look at the percentages, try to actually look at when you get your tax bill what that means to each and every person,” stressed following the budget approval. “We are, without a doubt, the lowest taxed in the entire province as a City.”
CAPITAL BUDGET
The City is making a series of key 2017 capital investments to preserve the integrity of infrastructure.
“Unfortunately, there is some infrastructure that we can’t say ‘no’ to anymore. Our bridges are one of them, our roads are another, and all those pipes underground are things that we need to look at. We need to proactively fix those things,” Perrault explained.
Swift Current is awaiting word on a New Building Canada Fund grant to assist with repairing deteriorating underground services under Herbert Street between 3rd Ave. and 6th Ave. N.E. The corrugated steel Storm Main under Herbert St. has disintegrated and this $2.81 million project would be cost shared with the provincial and federal government if the City’s grant application is accepted.