Council didn’t have a lot of wiggle room with budget, Mayor tells business community
Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky faced questions about the property tax increase business and residents will face after council approved a budget with a roughly $8 million spending increase.
Business leaders from across the community were at the Ches Leach Lounge on Tuesday to hear Powalinsky’s comments. He said there were several areas that needed funding after years of low tax increases.
“I think it’s fair to say that over the years, Prince Albert has enjoyed a series of affordable tax increases … and over that period of time other things escalated,” Powalinsky said. “We’re now at the point where we understand that we can’t cut services, but we need to find the revenue to make the services happen.”
Powlinsky said wages and benefits are the biggest increase to the City’s budget. Through police budget increases and collective bargaining agreements, Powalinsky expects to City will have to page more than $3 million in additional costs.
Buildings, maintenance, and transit operations also required increases, and maintaining the Steuart Arena will also add extra costs.
As for cost savings, Powalinsky told those in attendance closing the Frank Dunn Pool will help save some costs.
“Really, we don’t have a lot of wiggle room on the budget,” Powalinsky said. “This is what I call a balancing year. It’s to get us at least partway to where would could have been or should have been.”
With the increases, Powalinsky said there’s no way council can have a lower increase than the 10 per cent that was proposed.
“We’ve gone through the budget upside down, (and) sideways,” Powalinsky said.
“I thank council for all of the mental energy, (and) the senior administration, and departments for bringing forward a good budget, a fair budget, a just budget, and one that’s going to support Prince Albert.”
Prince Albert residents watch as Mayor Bill Powalinsky gives the State of the City address at the Ches Leach Lounge on Tuesday.
Powalinsky focused his address on community safety, infrastructure projects like the new indoor leisure centre, and ways the City is preparing for growth brought on by the new acute care tower at Victoria Hospital, and other opportunities.
Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce CEO Patty Hughes said she was happy to see Powalinsky address all three issues since they are top of mind for business owners.
When asked about the budget, she said residents were going to have to adjust to it.
“Regina just announced that they have a significant increase on their budget as well, and I think we’re going to be seeing that across the board, because the past few years, we have been doing slim increases trying to make sure that we do the best we can, but unfortunately it’s an adjustment year,” she said.
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
