The special town council meeting takes place at Battleford Town Hall on Jan. 15, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

2025 PROPOSED BUDGET

Battleford council proposes $100 levy to save funds for future infrastructure projects

Jan 16, 2025 | 11:58 AM

Residents in the Town of Battleford can expect a $100 levy this year.

The town held a special public council meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the proposed budget, which is expected to be approved by Jan. 20.

One of the highlights was the proposed zero per cent tax increase on municipal taxation. Although it is expected to remain the same, Mayor Ames Leslie explained that a new proposed $100 infrastructure levy will be added.

He noted that the levy is “a very prudent and proactive way” to save funds for upcoming projects without significantly raising taxes.

Those projects include a new fire hall, replacing Battleford District Care Centre, improvements to the hockey rink, continual asset improvement to the Fred Light Museum, and new investments in the town hall building.

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“So this money is identified to strictly go towards being saved for those projects,” Leslie noted.

“The day when things need to be done, the town will have money in the bank to address those facilities or build up new ones without having to exponentially raise taxations to do renovations or build new products.”

In addition, there is no proposed increase for the Battleford Asphalt Improvement Levy (BAIL), which funds ongoing sidewalk improvement projects.

This levy helps cover the cost of resurfacing 34th Street between Third Avenue and supports improvements and the addition of new pavement on Main Street.

Alongside other infrastructure projects, replacing the storm sewer will be one of the town’s major focuses.

Leslie explained that the goal is to increase the capacity and flow of the storm sewer system to better manage heavy rainfall and prevent flooding, particularly in the area around Battleford Central School, where water tends to pool.

“It’s been something that the utility department and the public works department have been addressing, and this is just the next stage,” he said.

Looking ahead, Leslie hopes the proposed budget will be approved at the council meeting on Jan. 20. He said it would allow the town to issue tenders and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) promptly and ensure that expenditures are maximized effectively.

“The longer it waits, then the further down the line we become of getting these projects done, which, at times, can convert to costing more money to do those projects,” he noted.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com