By battlefordsNOW

City administrators and chamber members hope for favourable budget

Apr 6, 2018 | 5:43 PM

Some local community leaders are crossing their fingers hoping the provincial budget being released Tuesday will be more favourable than last year’s offering.  

The City of North Battleford’s Mayor Ryan Bater said he hopes some of last year’s changes will be reversed.

The city had to make adjustments to its budget last year as a result of a $1.3-million shortfall caused by cuts in the provincial budget. This included cuts to grants-in-lieu paid to municipalities from SaskPower and SaskEnergy.

Bater added he is concerned this could lead to remittance cuts from other Crown corporations.

“I’ve received no information to suggest that is the case, but budgets are always full of surprises,” he said.

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The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce President Terry Caldwell said he hopes the budget will offer some benefits for business interests, particularly PST.

Last year’s budget saw the PST increase from five per cent to six per cent. It was also extended to cover restaurant meals, children’s clothing, construction and renovation, insurance premiums, and trade-in vehicles. 

“All we can say is we hope for a well-structured plan moving forward,” Caldwell said. “We’re hoping for a claw-back on the PST.”

Caldwell said a Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) study recently completed shows there has been a 10.8 per cent drop in restaurant income in the province, which is a concern.

“We know there have been layoffs in that sector,” said Caldwell, adding fewer people have been eating out, which has an impact on business.

In anticipating the new budget, Caldwell said the Chamber is “just hoping for the best.”

“We need some stimulus,” he said.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW