SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan government’s 2015 budget is “welcome news” to the City of Saskatoon, according to Mayor Don Atchison. The city will receive $47.44 million in revenue sharing, almost $1.5 million more than last year’s budget.
“We want to make sure we thank the premier and the government for staying with that commitment to the citizens of Saskatoon, it makes a big difference for us so we’re grateful for that,” said Atchison after the budget was announced Wednesday afternoon.
The revenue system is based on one percentage point of revenue from the provincial sales tax (PST) from two years prior. Atchison had raised concerns that the formula would be changed in this budget, which it wasn’t.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan budget holds line on taxes, but peels back incentives
“If they want to change the system, it’s just not changing the rates, it’s about changing the entire revenue sharing,” said Atchison when asked about potential future changes to the system.
“We’ll have to wait and see; I think it took us quite some time to get where we’re at right now and we’ll have to have those discussions.”
The north commuter bridge project was also mentioned in the budget. The project is not a line item for this year, but the province stated it’s “committed to providing $50 million in financial support” for the venture.
READ MORE: Promises of shorter commutes with $116M in bridge funding
“That was welcome news for the citizens of Saskatoon, that the funding is still flowing through it’s just not flowing this particular year for us,” said Atchison.
The budget also allocated money to improve highways near the city. Funds will go towards twinning Highway 7 from Saskatoon to Delisle and adding passing lanes on Highway 5 to Humboldt.
“It’s all about safety, heavens, when you think of people losing their lives because of single-laned highways, hopefully the twinning will carry on into the future and make roads that much safer for all of us,” said Atchsion.
READ MORE: Feds pouring money into Highway 7 twinning project
Atchison also commended the province for its continued focus on renovating old and building new schools in Saskatoon. The budget states it will support ongoing repairs at Holy Cross, George Vanier and St. Matthew’s in Saskatoon. It will also continue with ongoing projects in Saskatoon’s new neighbourhoods.
“People in Stonebridge who are wanting schools, they’re going to see those schools,” said Atchison.
“Rosewood will have their schools, Hampton Village, Evergreen; they’re all going to get their schools now, so I think that’s wonderful.”
READ MORE: Saskatchewan budget 2015: breaking down infrastructure funding
The University of Saskatchewan also reacted to the budget announced Wednesday. The institution will have to deal with a “one-time holdback of $20 million” from its 2015-16 operating grant, as well as a base increase that doesn’t meet the level of inflation.
“At this time I can say that our university operations, including services to students, research, programs and staff, will be unaffected by a one-time reliance on our savings,” said U of S interim president Gordon Barnhart in a statement.
“We are confident the government will restore funding in future years when the university needs these funds for the projects for which they were allocated,” he added.
U of S public policy professor Peter Phillips said while the budget cut back in certain areas, most citizens will likely not see their circumstances change dramatically because of it.
“For the most part this is a managed budget,” said Phillips.
“The money that’s required to deliver the programming and services that the government has picked as priority items is there and it’s being allocated in ways that I don’t think will bother most businesses and individuals,” he added.
“It’s a bit of a calming budget, in that I think people were expecting large changes.”
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