Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne (centre) welcomes councillors during last week's swearing-in ceremony. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

COVID finances

Council prepares for challenging budget deliberations

Nov 25, 2020 | 3:21 PM

The dates for 2021 budget deliberations have been set for early January and Prince Albert’s new city council is preparing to tackle what veteran members agree will be a particularly difficult year as municipalities stare down continued financial uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

“I’m welcoming the new councillors on board for one of our most challenging budget years ever,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW.

The pandemic is estimated to cost the city $1.1 million by the end of 2020, but money from the federal and provincial governments to help municipalities with COVID-19 shortfalls will more than make up for that.

Dionne said he estimates Prince Albert will have $2.9 million left from the provincial MEEP program and federal safe restart fund, which will be carried over as surplus into 2021, but he doesn’t want to see any of that used in the 2021 budget.

“Strictly because we’re going to be dealing with COVID for sure for the first half of 2021 and maybe longer, and we know both the provincial and federal government are going to be tight to give us money,” he said. “So we’re not going to go near that surplus fund strictly because we know we’re going to need it.”

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Dionne said he realizes businesses and residents are also suffering financially due to the pandemic and he doesn’t want to make up for lost revenue with a large tax increase.

“We know money’s tight. Businesses are in trouble and so we really need to sharpen our pencils and bring in as low a [tax] increase as we can,” he said.

To compensate, Dionne said the city may have to decrease spending on repairs to roads, sidewalks and parks.

“We’re still going to continue that but not as the vicious pace that we have been going,” he said.

Councillors weigh in

Four-term city councillor, Charlene Miller, on the other hand, said playgrounds and paving were her top priorities heading into budget deliberations. She cited the recent major upgrade to a playground in West Flat.

“It’s just absolutely fabulous,” she said referencing the new equipment. “Now if more of our playgrounds could use an upgrade like that, I would like to continue to do that.”

Her fellow veteran councillor, Don Cody echoed Mayor Dionne saying this year’s budget would be “particularly tough,” but explained although the city would have to be careful with spending because of COVID-19 he doesn’t want to see any major cuts.

One area Cody would be in favour of a small increase is the police budget.

“I think the public would be amenable to putting on a few extra dollars per property for crime,” he explained.

Coun. Tony Head, one of two new councillors this term, campaigned providing more transparency and accountability on city spending.

“I can’t wait to get back in council chambers to start deliberating and dissecting [the budget],” he said. “To start asking those very important questions about what monies we’re spending and where we can have things tightened and money used for other areas where people are in need.”

Dawn Kilmer, another newcomer to council, said she’ll be considering to how the city can set itself up for longterm success as she parses through budget documents.

“Looking towards the future, not only the immediate future but the five-year future,” she said.

General fund deliberations are scheduled for Jan. 6 and Jan. 7.

Sanitation, Utility and Airport, and Land Funds budget deliberations are scheduled for Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

The proposed General Fund Budget package will be released on Dec. 16.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom