(File photo/paNOW News)

By paNOW Staff

2022 BUDGET

City to save over $2 million as budget deliberations wrap up

Feb 8, 2022 | 9:00 AM

The City of Prince Albert is closing in on a final budget for 2022 after weeks of deliberations.

Consultations concluded Monday night where the committee was able to trim the budget by $2.6 million.

Administration had originally proposed a spending increase of $4.4 million for the year but following deliberations that amount is now $1.8 million.

“Costs go up every year and the City faces the pressure of increasing demands for service and rising cost doing business,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “In spite of these pressures, this Council is committed to working to keep tax rates as low as possible.”

In the 2022 budget, there are no cuts to existing service levels and major investments will be made to city parks and playgrounds as well information technology services to improve the efficiency of the City’s operations over the long term.

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Some of the projects for the year include the James Isbister Portable Skateboard Park and basketball Court Replacement, the Crescent Acres Spray Park, and the Rotary Adventure Park at Little Red River Park.

“We want to build a better City and invest in the projects that add value to our residents,” said Dionne. “In this budget, we have achieved that while also balancing the need to keep property tax increases to a minimum.”

The budget recommendations will be forwarded to an upcoming City Council meeting for final approval. Once approved, the next step will be deciding on a plan to finalize how the tax rate will impact different properties.

Council will meet again to review options including minimum tax rates, base tax rates and the mill rate.

This review is expected in March when the final tax rates will be set for 2022.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow