Nipawin Town Hall (File photo/northeastNOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Nipawin Budget 2020

Nipawin aiming to put money in reserves and stay within three per cent tax increase

Dec 5, 2019 | 1:00 PM

The Town of Nipawin is still in the draft phase of its budget discussions, but council has expressed two financial goals for 2020.

Put money towards reserves and keep taxes within a two and a half to a three per cent increase, which Nipawin Mayor Rennie Harper called the cost of living’s general increase.

“I think we have a target in mind and we’re hoping to stay within that target,” Harper told northeastNOW. “We’ve managed to collectively reduce some things, put money into reserves, and do some phasing as opposed to assuming the responsibility for a project at the same time.”

According to Nipawin’s latest 2020 budget summary presented at a special council meeting on Dec. 4, the town’s projected revenue is $8,479,257 – a 4.29 per cent ($379,944) decrease from 2019. However, expenses are projected at $7,951,955 – a 10.21 per cent ($904,452) decrease.

The town is projected to take out $374,654 from capital and operating reserves in 2020, down $487,249 from the year prior. $250,298 will be transferred to those reserves, down $25,007 from 2019.

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Barry Elliott, Nipawin’s chief administrative officer, said operation funds for the town’s services are still in place despite the decrease in expenses.

“Council has given due consideration to the needs of the departments in order to ensure all the services are maintained, and as always, we strive to improve those services,” Elliott said. “We know those funds are tentatively there to continue.”

No numbers are finalized and items in the budget still need approval. As recent as the special meeting on Dec. 4, Nipawin council made decisions such as putting $12,000 towards beautifying First Ave E boulevard and putting money into reserves so they can replace the fire panel in Centennial Arena in 2021.

Harper said council scheduled another meeting on Dec. 11 to discuss further adjustments to the 2020 budget.

“Hopefully it will come to council the last meeting of December or first meeting in January for approval, and then we’ll start talking implications for taxation,” she said.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow