(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

COVID Impact

P.A. looking at $2.1M loss in revenue from pandemic in 2021

Nov 12, 2021 | 1:08 PM

The City of Prince Albert is estimating a multi-million loss this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, P.A.’s administration outlined the impact the virus is believed to have had as part of the proposed 2022 budget.

In total, the pandemic is expected to have cost the city over $2.1 million in potential revenue with the lack of funds coming from community services accounting for the majority of the loss.

Back in 2020, the City of P.A. received roughly $5.1 million from the Saskatchewan government through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program and nearly $2.3 million from the federal government through the Safe Restart Program.

This funding has been used on capital items that were budgeted for 2020, community clubs, IT infrastructure, the P.A. police service, and to help balance the 2021 budget to ensure residents didn’t have to pay more in taxes.

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It also replaced the approximately $1.8 million the city lost in potential revenue last year from the pandemic.

However, the leftover funding isn’t enough to cover the anticipated loss in 2021. The City of P.A. is looking at a $202,000 shortfall.

P.A.’s administration is also expecting the city to lose another $2 million in revenue next year.

This is just an estimate as potential future health orders issued to fight back against the pandemic will be the main indicator for how much the city will actually lose.

There’s also the possibility the city could see a decrease in revenue in 2023 as well, however, the city hasn’t made any projections.

Meanwhile, budget talks for P.A. will officially start on November 17, 2021.

Seven meetings have already been scheduled in November and early December.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow