Tuesday, December 6, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement from The City of Humboldt on
APPROVED 2023 BUDGET
Humboldt, SK – The City of Humboldt’s proposed 2023 City Budget was presented to City Council in a Special Meeting of Council held on Monday, December 5, 2022. Mayor Behiel led Council and Administration through the numerous budget cost centres and eleven capital projects. Following discussion on each topic, Council endorsed the budget proposed by Administration, making no changes.
Mayor Behiel stated, “Council and I support the efforts that Administration has put into preparing the 2023 Budget. Undoubtedly, with the rate of inflation, this wouldn’t have been an easy task. However, we are able to maintain a balance of the services that the City provides without sacrificing programs or placing a burden on taxpayers.”
For 2023, Council approved administration’s recommendation of a 5.1% increase in general municipal property tax, and a 3% increase for water and sewer revenue. In comparison to other cities in the province, Humboldt is on the lower end of the scale in terms of tax rate and utility increases.
“At a time when fuel, materials, and other costs are increasing compared to last year by more than 10%, Administration is confident that the community will understand the need for a tax increase of approximately 5% in order for the City to continue to address the everyday operations of the City as well as the need for ongoing infrastructure renewals,” said Joe Day, City Manager.
Notable cost drivers in the 2023 budget include cost increases from waste management, policing, utility costs, property and liability insurance, and fleet expenses. Increases in revenue from the Provincial Revenue Sharing Grant, SaskPower and SaskEnergy surcharges, interest revenue, waste management and other user fees all helped to offset the cost increases. The net effect of the increased costs and additional revenue is that property tax revenue needed to increase by approximately $383,810 which equates to tax increase of approximately 5.1%.
The largest capital project approved is the Carl Schenn Storm Water Dry Pond and Piping project at a cost of $1,515,340. Identified as the first project to be undertaken as part of the City-Wide Storm Water study, an approximately 2.5m deep dry pond will be created in Carl Schenn Park to relieve Barnes Crescent, Dust Crescent, and 12th Avenue during heavy rainfall events. The cost does include trails, landscape features and retaining walls.
Another notable project is the completion of the 14th Street project that last year saw the water main and service replacements, and roadway base reconstruction from 6th avenue to 8th Avenue. The project will be completed in 2023 with concrete and paving at an estimated cost of $344,200.
To continue with the effort to annually replace some of the oldest underground infrastructure and rebuild the associate road structure, Council approved the replacement of watermains under 11th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue for the summer of 2023. The road surface and concrete work will be completed in 2024.
The 2023 budget does not propose any new external loans, however Administration is aware that the Wastewater Treatment (Lagoon) upgrade will likely require the City to take on new debt before the end of 2023. The City’s share of this project will be approximately $9.1 million and Administration will bring a plan to Council in early 2023 to detail the construction plan and financing plan for this important project.
Many capital projects planned for 2023 will be funded by the City in combination with grant revenue that the City anticipates from Provincial, Federal, and FCM programs.
To view the Approved 2023 Consolidated Budget, go to humboldt.ca.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Penny Lee
Marketing and Development Manager, City of Humboldt
Phone: 306.682.2525, ext 330
E-mail: penny.lee@humboldt.ca