Melfort Council passes budget with 3.89 per cent tax increase

Basic water and sewer services are also going up by a dollar each, with a 50-cent increase in waste collection fees. That means an overall increase of $5.90 per average household.

“The 2025 Budget embodies our unwavering dedication to elevating the infrastructure and services our community relies on,” Mayor Glenn George said in the release. “These vital investments are the foundation for Melfort’s enduring growth and vitality.”

The city said in the release they project an increase of $100,000 in electricity and natural gas costs due to the carbon tax, while expenses relating to policing will make up 66 per cent of the increase in general operating expenses compared to 2024. That added expense is $280,030.

Capital budget highlights include $544,497 to purchase a new fire truck, $2.5 million toward the decommissioning of the old landfill, construction of a new landfill cell, and purchase a landfill compactor. The city will also use $2.2 million for road and sidewalk rehabilitation, including McKendry Avenue and Albert Street, and $100,000 for the schematic design of the Northern Lights Palace project.

“Reducing the tax increase to 3.89 per cent was challenging. It required extensive discussions and careful consideration of various budget items,“ City Manager Adam Homes told northeastNOW. “We had to balance the need for essential services and infrastructure projects with the goal of minimizing the financial burden on residents. This involved making decisions on where to reduce costs and how to allocate resources most effectively.”

Homes said he was pleased with how deliberations went.

“I am satisfied with how the budget was developed,” said Homes. “It strikes a balance between meeting the needs of our community and ensuring fiscal responsibility. The final budget effectively supports key initiatives and services that are important to our residents.”

A major topic of conversation at last night’s council meeting regarding the budget was the Historic Post Office. One of the major capital budget items was $500,000 earmarked for the building’s roof replacement. Councillor Trent Mitchell voiced his concerns that the cost of the roof is just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to rehabilitation costs for the aging building.

Mitchell told council the city needs to be realistic about the state of the historic building, and that it’s important for them to be fiscally responsible. He put forward an amendment to the capital budget, stating that the tender for the post office roof repair be delayed until approved by council.

Other councillors echoed Mitchell’s concerns about throwing money at the facility, especially if it’s not usable. They also agreed with Mitchell that it was a catch-22, in that they also didn’t want to lose the historic building.

Councillor Tara Muntain said a lot of work has been done to the building, including windows and remediation work. She said the city needs a plan for the facility before they can access potential grants. Muntain and Councillor Brian Enge said they don’t want to lose the heritage aspect of the facility.

Councillor Seth MacNaughton said at the meeting he would also like to see multiple options regarding the facility, while Councillor Adrian Bourgeois added if they don’t put the work into the roof repair, the building will fail, and all of the city’s prior investment into it will be for naught. Mayor Glenn George agreed, saying that he hates to spend that kind of taxpayer money on the roof, but if it fails the building could be finished.

Director of Community Services Rob Lok weighed in as well. He said the city commissioned a structural report on the building back in 2012 and not much has changed since then. He recommended council read the report, which is detailed on the state of the facility. He also offered tours of the building to council members.

In the end Councillor Mitchell’s amendment was passed unanimously, and the roof replacement tender will not proceed until approved by council.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK

by Cam Lee

Melfort Council passes budget with 3.89 per cent tax increase

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