HUMBOLDT, SK — The City of Humboldt’s proposed 2025 budget was presented to City Council in a special meeting held on Monday, December 2, 2024. Mayor Rob Muench led Council and Administration through all budget cost centres, as well as capital projects for 2025.
Budget deliberations began with a proposed 5.5% increase in municipal taxes and a proposed 5.28% increase in utility rates
A few adjustments were presented through budget deliberations relating to assessment growth, sale of land that was previously exempt from taxes, and the City using the Housing Accelerator Funds to account for abated taxes on properties that were eligible through the City’s Residential Construction Incentive Bylaw. Those adjustments brought the anticipated increase to 4.58%, before budget deliberations were recessed to December 9, 2024.
Following the recess of the budget meeting on December 2, City administration reviewed opportunities for reducing the tax increase and identified three areas that wouldn’t impact service levels or future investments in infrastructure. The opportunities presented were reducing the allowance for tax cancellations, revisiting the forecasting of interest revenue, and accounting for more revenue from the LED sign agreement that is anticipated to be renewed for 2025.
After accounting for those adjustments, the 2025 proposed budget resulted in a property tax increase of 3.95% and a utility rate increase of 5.28%.
“It was a long process but I’m glad we took a week off between meetings to go through and try to whittle the numbers down,” said Muench. “It’s one of those things where tax increases are never a thing you want to do but we have a lot of things we need to get done especially in the capital realm of things.”
Six roadway projects, two water main replacements, and the Wastewater Treatment Facility and Lift Station 1 and 4 upgrades highlighted the capital projects approved within the 2025 budget. There were additional approvals for equipment and fleet, and an upgrade to the Aquatic Centre flooring.
Many capital projects planned for 2025 will be funded from reserves by the City in combination with grant revenue that the City anticipates from Provincial and Federal programs.
Mayor Muench added, “I hear a lot from people about the need to fix our roads, and we all know that it comes at a cost. Over the past few years, inflation and rising material costs—particularly for asphalt and piping—have driven prices up significantly. We can’t afford to fall behind again.”
To view the Approved 2025 Consolidated Budget, go to humboldt.ca.
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Angie Rolheiser
Communications Coordinator, City of Humboldt
Phone: 306.682.2525, ext 663
E-mail: communicationscoordinator@humboldt.ca
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