(Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Budget 2025

Halfway through budget talks, council makes few changes

Jan 9, 2025 | 4:00 PM

At the halfway mark of the 2025 budget discussion, Prince Albert city council has made their way through about 50 per cent of the $8 million suggested increased spending without significant changes.

However, some of the bigger departments like Protective Services, are still to come.

“Well, we’re only halfway through day 2,” said Mayor Bill Powalinsky on Thursday. “So there’s a fair bit of budget request still to come at the moment.”

The fire department has not made any large requests but one recommendation is that council start putting $500,000 yearly into a reserve fund towards the construction of a second fire hall in the future.

That is something the department has said for several years is needed in order to meet industry recommendations on response time.

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Prince Albert Police will present their draft budget and a request for a 6.6 per cent increase in funding which equals $1.2 million. Last year, their requested increase was cut in half. A decision on this year’s numbers will come once council hears from Chief Patrick Nogier.

“Protective services are certainly very, very important to the public and those are budgets that we really want to pay close attention to,” Powalinsky said.

Potential changes could be made in the amount allocated to rehabbing city facility parking lots and potential re-purposing or sale of the Dave Steuart arena as discussed on Wednesday.

Thursday, council devoted time to talking about the financial relationship between the city-owned Cooke Municipal Golf Course and the clubhouse, which is run as a private business. The city keeps the revenue from green fees and memberships.

The non-profit Prince Albert Golf and Curling Centre that runs the Rock & Iron Sports Bar and the curling rinks asked council for financial help in December as dining – or consuming alcohol – has dropped at the restaurant resulting in less revenue.

Councillor Bryce Laewetz (Ward 4) suggested that maybe instead of increasing green fees by 2.5 per cent this year as recommended, they increase the rates by four percent and use the difference to help out the restaurant as needed.

That decision was delayed so more digging can happen into how the curling portion plays into the whole facility’s financial health and not just the golf course or restaurant.

Powalinsky said he is impressed with how new councillors who just took their seats in November are managing the intensive budget process.

“The questions you’re hearing today certainly indicate that the new councillors have taken the time to do their due diligence,” he said.

Many of the motions are resulting in an agreement between the more experienced councillors and the new ones, which shows good insight into the issues being discussed.

Day 3 of budget talks starts Friday at 9 a.m. and further days for the general fund are not anticipated at this time.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social