The government announced
today municipalities – both urban and rural, will see record revenue sharing in
2013. Northern Saskatchewan, especially will receive a big boost with an extra $3
million, while Regina and Saskatoon will receive between $4 and $5 million more
than last year. .
The numbers are
impressive. “The amount of growth is about 27 million dollars this year,” said
Jim Reiter, Minister of government relations.
Since 2007/2008 municipal
revenue sharing – that is 1 percent of the PST set aside for communities, has
more than doubled – a happy consequence of a growing province.
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“This is completely
unconditional funding, so they can use it to target areas where they see fit.
There’s no restrictions on it. If they want to use it for operating they can,”
said Minister Reiter, who noted the funding would go a long way to improve
rural roads.
Saskatchewan Urban
Municipalities Association and Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
– as well as the mayors of Canada’s two fastest-growing cities say they’re
pleased with the balance the province has struck between funding both our
cities and our smaller towns.
“He was certainly asked by
the one groups, SUMA and the other group SARM for different results and I think
it’s really the Saskatchewan way where we’ve been able to come up with a
solution here that’s certainly going to help us move into the next five years,”
said Saskatoon mayor, Don Atchison.
The extra money is a
significant infusion for growing urban centres with growing infrastructure
needs and a growing population.
“It helps us provide fire
protection and take care of our pools and recreation facilities, snow removal
and all those kinds of things that are very important,” said Regina mayor,
Michael Fougere.
There is no doubt an extra
$27 million is a good news announcement, but many municipalities are waiting
for an even bigger announcement on Wednesday when it’s revealed if funding is
available for infrastructure in the budget.
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