The Kinsmen Water park is a popular destination during the summer for both city residents as well as families from the neighbouring area. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Infrastructure

City of Prince Albert testing the waters for new regional funding formula

Jun 11, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The City of Prince Albert is exploring better ways to pay for its recreational facilities, which are currently kept afloat and running by the city’s tax payers.

During Monday night’s city council meeting, a motion was received and filed related to putting a Regional Funding Model in place. Ward four councilor Don Cody moved the motion and told paNOW they need a model that best fits the city as well as the neighbouring villages and rural municipalities.

“We’re not suggesting at all that they need to go and pay a lot of extra money but we do need some help when it comes to these facilities, These facilities are getting so expensive, not only to build but also to run,” he said.

Cody explained the way it works now is anyone can come and use the city’s facilities, whether you pay tax in the community or not. He acknowledged that the rate payers in the nearby areas will argue that they do buy gas in, shop for groceries, and support the city in other ways.

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“That is quote true and I appreciate that but at the same time we do the same but also I pay taxes towards those facilties,” Cody said.

The motion Monday night was received and filed by city administration. The discussion comes as the City of Prince Albert submits a wish list of sorts to the provincial and federal governments, which includes an expansion ot the water treatment plant, a new bus garage and a new home for the Raiders.

The expression of interest does not mean anything is for certain, but rather provides the senior levels of government with information regarding what the city’s infrastructure needs are, and the two levels of governments will in return reply with what projects they feel are most feasible based on funding available. City Manager Jim Toye told paNOW the list he submitted is very broad.

“There’s only so much money to go around so we have made a long list rather than a short list,” he said. “We’re hoping one or two of them hit.”

Toye said once when they hear back from the seniors levels of government, the city can then go to its regional partners to look at a reginal funding plan.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell