(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Humboldt budget

Humboldt approves budget for 2025

Dec 10, 2024 | 4:44 PM

The City of Humboldt has passed their 2025 budget.

Residents will face a property tax increase of 3.95 per cent and a utility rate increase of 5.28 per cent.

The proposed budget was presented to city council at a special meeting on Dec. 2, where budget deliberations began with a proposed 5.5 per cent tax increase and a 5.28 per cent utility rate hike.

After several adjustments, the proposed tax increase was lowered to 4.58 per cent before deliberations paused until yesterday, Dec. 9.

The city’s news release said that administration reviewed opportunities to reduce the tax increase. The allowance for tax cancellations was reduced, the interest revenue forecast was revisited, and an anticipated LED sign revenue increase for 2025 helped adjust the proposed tax increase to 3.95 per cent.

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“It was a long process but I’m glad we took a week off between meetings to go through and try to whittle the numbers down,” Mayor Rob Muench explained in the release. “It’s one of those things where tax increases are never a thing you want to do, but we have a lot of things we need to get done especially in the capital realm of things.”

Some of those capital expenses include six roadway projects, a pair of water main replacements, and the Wastewater Treatment Facility and upgrades to two lift stations. An upgrade to the Aquatic Centre flooring and equipment and fleet replacements are also part of the capital budget.

Mayor Muench said many people have been asking the city to fix the roads.

“Over the past few years, inflation and rising material costs – particularly for asphalt and piping – have driven prices up significantly,” Muench said. “We can’t afford to fall behind again.”

The release said many capital projects next year will be funded by City reserves and grant revenue expected from provincial and federal programs.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK