The 2025 budget is approved during a regular town council meeting in Battleford on Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

2025 TOWN BUDGET

Battleford 2025 budget approved: over $2M projected surplus, no tax hike

Jan 21, 2025 | 12:56 PM

The Town of Battleford approved a balanced 2025 budget on Jan. 20, prioritizing community development and long-term savings with a five per cent revenue increase and no rise in general taxes.

“The big thing to realize is the ever-increasing costs of inflation and things like that. Our management and finance team were able to pass a balanced budget with no increase in our operational costs,” said Mayor Ames Leslie.

“Our team looked at every aspect they could to reduce costs to the operation of our community, and they were able to find some efficiencies and ways to save the taxpayers some money.”

The new budget revenues are projected to be over $8 million, and expenditures are expected to be $5.9 million. Leslie said a surplus of over $2 million will be used for capital projects, ensuring the town’s long-term financial stability.

Based on the five-year capital plan, the town is expected to spend over one million dollars on around 11 infrastructure projects in 2025 while saving over $400,000 by carrying over from last year.

HEALTHCARE CRISIS

'This is just unacceptable': Beauval health centre 17-day closure sparks rural healthcare concerns

42m ago

National Aboriginal Hockey Championship

Sharks set to represent Team Sask at NAHC

3h ago

PJHL hockey

Timberjaks junior hockey club quickly becoming a source of community pride and player growth

3h ago

One major project is storm sewer replacement on 25 Street West, Third Avenue and Highway 4, costing $491,000.

Other projects include asphalt reconstruction for the curb and gutter on Third Avenue and 35 Street to 36 Street, which costs $402,000, and the removal and replacement of the sidewalk on 22 Street from 100 to 200 blocks, which costs $245,000.

For the new fire hall, the town is expected to invest $20,000 this year, and for the remainder of the five-year plan, the expenditure is projected to be $125,000 per year.

New revenue streams

“We didn’t have to go back to the well to increase taxation because we have found other revenue streams that are not taxation,” Leslie added.

One new revenue stream he referred to is the introduction of a new Capital Replacement Levy, which will increase annual costs by $100 per household.

Leslie said that although this levy will increase residents’ costs of living, it is expected to generate an extra $195,600 for the town, which will be allocated directly to future facility development and infrastructure improvements.

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

“I like the idea of the future saves and not acting too irrationally to be putting projects on right now when you have some things coming up. So I think it’s positioning the town well into the future,” said Councillor Mark Colmen when discussing the levy.

For other revenue streams, Leslie also noted that the town secured a “fairly aggressive rate” on its reserve funds and anticipates around $745,000 in investment income for community improvements.

Furthermore, he said the financial team found additional revenue sources, including a $100,000 increase in property tax revenue, a $200,000 increase in government grants and an extra $100,000 from other fees and services.

This budget plan was led by the efforts of finance manager Tetiana Polishchuk and chief administrative officer Todd Francis.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com