Submitted by Administrator Kevin Trew – Council approved the 2019 budget with a projected 1% increase in overall taxes levied over 2018 keeping in step with the reported 2018 inflation (1.1%). It is still to be decided later this year exactly how this will affect individual property tax bills. The municipality will wait until it received the final 2019 assessment figures from Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency before it calculates the 2019 base tax, minimum tax and mill rates for commercial, agricultural and residential properties.
41% of all Town revenues come from local municipal tax collection, while 22% of 2019 revenues will come from utility fees. 30% of the Town’s revenues come from outside sources (Province of Saskatchewan and other municipalities/authorities). The RM of Moose Range continues to be a strong partner and supporter of joint activities which the Town manages including Carrot River Fire and Rescue, Carrot River Economic Development, Carrot River Recreation Board, and the Community Hall. While the Fire and Rescue budget is agreed upon annually, the Town is pleased that the RM of Moose Range has made an additional 3 year commitment starting in 2019 to $40,000 annually as a contribution to the Town towards operations of economic development and recreation activities in our community.
The budgeted operating expenditures total approximately $1.99 million with revenues to offset and the total budget is expected to run at a surplus close to $90,000, which Council feels is necessary to assist to replenish cash reserves.
Garbage and recycling now accounts for 13.5% of the total operating expenditures of the Town and accounts for the largest single line budget expenditure. Staff wages and benefits account for 29% of the total operating expenditures of the Town and accounts for the largest function expenditure (staffing costs are included in various department expenses).
The Town plans to put lights at the well signed crosswalk on the highway at Third Avenue which should further enhance public safety as well as install similar lights at the crosswalk on the highway at First Avenue. Administration has applied for provincial safety grants for this project and will be approaching local service clubs as well as The Pasquia Trust to contribute.
The executive team did not propose any new programs to be implemented in 2019, however additional budgeted expenses (over 2018) come into play with two committees that the Town of Carrot River and the Rural Municipality of Moose Range #486 jointly operate. The Pasquia Trust will receive an operating grant from each municipality in 2019 in order to pay office and administrative expenses. Carrot River Fire and Rescue will see an increase in operating expenses over the original budget in 2018 as remuneration for staff has changed with the conversion from strictly paid/on call officers to a combination of employment contracts and paid/on call officers as well as a two year training certification to local members.
Finally, SASKATCHEWAN’S OUTBACK, through the Town of Carrot River, RM of Moose Range #486 and the Carrot River Board of Trade will continue the 5 year commitment to be the title sponsor for the local KCRA rodeo.
Capital items included in the budget include:
- Council put the Mazurek Drive Subdivision Project on hold and abandoned the Sewage Lift Station replacement project in the fall of 2018 and no further funds are budgeted for either project in 2019
- The $3.6 Million Water Treatment Plant upgrade will get started in 2019 with engineering costs and preliminary pilot projects and full construction expected in 2020. 2/3 of these costs will be bore by the Federal and Provincial Governments through the Small Communities Fund of the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Grant Program
- 2019 marks the final year of a 5 year capital agreement totalling $300,000 between the Town of Carrot River and the RM of Moose Range to contribute to upgrades to the Community Centre (Arena). The final capital expenditure of this program will be a dehumidifier and additional insulation which will be supplemented by funds raised from the Heat the Rink campaign held in the summer of 2017 and funds donated by Richardson Pioneer
- 2019 also marks the final year of a 4 year capital agreement totaling $200,000 between the Town of Carrot River and the RM of Moose Range to contribute to upgrade to the Community Hall. A complete kitchen overhaul is expected to occur late in 2019 and may be completed early in 2020. Plans are under way to recruit volunteer members from the community to serve as municipal appointees to a kitchen upgrade advisory committee. If anyone is interested in serving, please contact Kevin Trew at the Town office
- The Town anticipates a new capital agreement between both supporting municipalities toward future capital expenditures of both the Community Centre and the Community Hall
- There are no significant capital expenditures planned for Carrot River Fire and Rescue in 2019, however plans are under way for the scheduled upgrade/replacement of 1 fire apparatus in 2020
- Scheduled trade ins of mowing equipment for public works and the cemetery are budgeted for 2019
- 2019 marks the final year of a multi-year upgrade of hydrants project in Town with the last 3 obsolete hydrants being replaced
- The Town will continue the water meter replacement project and conversion to the radio frequency meters for all utility users, a project expected to be completed in 2021. Once this is complete, the Town will be able to perform actual monthly utility billing as well as monitor all services to mitigate water service line leakage therefor conserving water
- Plans are underway to invest approximately $750,000 in paving projects in 2019 with the completion of the both Third Avenue projects, as well as the addition of a First Avenue West project and Main Street project for 2019
- 2019 is the Final year of a 4 year commitment where the Town of Carrot River contributes to a capital investment in the equipment and operations of the landfill for $50,000
- As has been the norm for a number of years of the Town’s existence, Town Council expects to seek financing secured by future operating surpluses for the paving project and secured by reserves and future utility operating surpluses for the water treatment plant upgrade project, while contributing cash toward all other capital projects
Editors note: Article updated February 23rd, 2019 at 2:16 pm, to include a missing paragraph:
The Town plans to put lights at the well signed crosswalk on the highway at Third Avenue which should further enhance public safety as well as install similar lights at the crosswalk on the highway at First Avenue. Administration has applied for provincial safety grants for this project and will be approaching local service clubs as well as The Pasquia Trust to contribute.
