City Council passed the City of North Battleford’s 2023 proposed budget on Monday evening during the last Regular Council Meeting of the year. The budget, presented to Council over a series of lengthy public meetings, was deemed “a tough one”, by both Council and City Administration.
Council voted to approve a 5.99% property tax increase, which includes a 1% capital fund increase, a 2.56% increase to meet the RCMP’s newly ratified collective bargaining agreement, and a 1.15% increase due to a projected reduction in the 2023 Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant from the Province. The balance of the approved property tax increase is due to a significant rise in inflation and the rising prices of commodities like oil and gas.
Increases for utility rates were also approved by Council on Monday, with Sanitary Sewer rates increasing by 5.5%, Water rates increasing by 4.3%, and Household Garbage and Recycling fees increasing by 6.8%.
After having no increase to the Underground Pipe and Asphalt Replacement (UPAR) Program since 2017, Council also approved a 16.7% increase for UPAR for 2023 which results in an average of $36.41 increase per year for property owners. The UPAR increase will specifically fund sidewalk replacement and connections where sidewalks are incomplete.
“During Budget deliberations, Council worked very hard together with Administration to find ways to minimize the increases,” commented Mayor David Gillan. “However, in 2023, the City is facing a significant one-time cost for RCMP wage increases as well as a significant one-time revenue reduction of the Provincial Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant. This, on top of unprecedented inflation, resulted in the final approved increases to taxes and fees.”
City Council commended outgoing Director of Finance Brent Nadon for the Finance Department’s work on the budget, and Administration’s ability to provide Council with various budget options for their consideration. Director Nadon is leaving the City at the end of the year for another employment opportunity. Finance Manager Margarita Pena will assume the role of Director of Finance effective January 1, 2023.
For more information:
Candace Toma, Public Relations Coordinator
306-441-0713 | publicrelations@cityofnb.ca