By Charlene Tebbutt

Moe money

Moe announces more funding for Saskatchewan municipalities

Feb 4, 2019 | 3:06 PM

Prince Albert’s mayor says he’s happy to hear more funding will be coming to Saskatchewan’s municipalities, although it’s too soon yet to say exactly how much money might flow to the city.

Mayor Greg Dionne said he’s pleased with news that the provincial government will give more funding to Saskatchewan cities and towns under a new revenue sharing calculation. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced Monday morning that funding will increase by more than $10 million in 2019-20, an increase of four per cent over the 2018-19 fiscal year.

The funding boost means a total of $251 million will flow to communities across the province in the next fiscal year. Moe made the announcement Monday morning before community representatives at the annual Saskatchewan Urban Muncipalities Association (SUMA) convention.

Dionne said the city is still trying to fill the gap left by provincial funding cuts.

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“It’s certainly not going to add up to what we have lost in the last couple of years, but at least it’s a positive, because it’s moving forward and not backwards,” Dionne said. “There are signs that it’s starting to move, but until it comes back so they can share, but at least it’s going in the right direction.”

“I want to know where we stand with our share of the 25 per cent we’re supposed to be getting for cannabis.” _{Mayor Greg Dionne.}

Dionne is in Saskatoon this week for the SUMA convention, where he has meetings planned with a number of provincial government ministers and officials on topics including highways, tax incentives and election dates. Dionne said the city continues to work to find new sources of revenue.

“I want to know where we stand with our share of the 25 per cent we’re supposed to be getting for cannabis,” Dionne said.

Dionne is also pushing for a new hospital in Prince Albert, and is hopeful that announcement will be part of the provincial budget next month. The provincial budget will be unveiled March 20.

“I’m not being greedy; I’m a realist,” Dionne said. “I’m quite happy with what we’re getting today if we’re getting a new hospital. You have to work with the government to continue to move things forward.”

More details about the revenue sharing formula are expected to be included when the budget is announced next month. Moe said the 2019-20 budget will be balanced.

charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt