Moment with the Mayor: Construction and Taxes

Hi Neighbours:

The nice weather is here and that means our second season, construction, is around the corner. This year, we are still chipping away at our infrastructure deficit with investment in priority need infrastructure.

City	Percent Tax Increase
Estevan	7.00%
Humboldt	5.00%
Kindersley	3.00%
Lloydminster	10.40%
Martensville	3.51%
Meadow Lake	3.00%
Melfort	4.90%
Melville	6.00%
Moose Jaw	5.13%
North Battleford	4.50%
Prince Albert	2.57%
Regina	3.90%
Saskatoon	5.34%
Swift Current	3.21%
Warman	3.51%
Weyburn	5.00%
Yorkton	6.00%

2015 Infrastructure Work

Water main replacements investment totals about $1.6 million this year. The neighbourhoods affected include: 5^th St W., 5^th St Cres., Queen Dr., the back alley along Close’s Family Foods, and the Thomson Dr. feeder main. Road work will be done on 5^th St W., 5^th St Cres., and Queen Dr. The work will cost approximately $1.2 million. The overall cost of this important work is about $2.8 million. As an aside, the Medical Arts Authority is looking to spend about $150,000 to pave the Clinic parking lot on the north side of the building.

Some capital spending items: land for a new Fire Hall for $65,000; new landfill $500,000; and approximately $365,000 at the WCEC, which includes fire suppression pipes and boilers, plus we are still receiving estimates on other upgrades at the facility.

The Senior’s bus, a 2000 model, is being replaced for about $95,000. Portions of all capital project listed above may also be offset from grant funding.

The table above lists the approximate increase in property taxes that other municipalities in the province are planning. The average increase is 4.8%, with the lowest increase being 2.57% in Prince Albert and the highest being 10.4% in Lloydminster. Kindersley’s planned increase of 3% is very much on par with the rest of the province. Given some of the infrastructure pressures we see coming down the road, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a larger increase down the road for us.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.