The Provincial Budget showed signs of progress toward a Municipal Sector Plan, but Saskatchewan’s cities, towns and villages are still looking for long-term increases to Revenue Sharing and infrastructure funding. The Province has been negotiating with SUMA representatives on a municipal funding plan. Today’s budget confirms progress, but mayors and councils view the new funds as just one piece of a broader plan.

In the budget, the Province announced a $15.9 million increase for urban Revenue Sharing and a $20 million increase to the Building Communities program. “We have been asking for an additional $40 million for Revenue Sharing and an extra $40 million for infrastructure funding,” said SUMA President Allan Earle. “We appreciate the increases, although they do not reflect our need for a long-term, predictable strategy for an alternative municipal revenue source.” By working with the Minister of Government Relations, SUMA hopes to address funding gaps and other long-standing irritants of its members, such as the 35% local contribution requirement for health facilities.

Urban municipalities have also been seeking support for municipal environmental programs. “From elected officials to the individual taxpayer, we all have a role to play in protecting the environment,” said President Earle. “Municipalities have a keen interest in diverting multiple waste materials from landfills,” Earle said. In yesterday’s Green Strategy announcement, the $415,000 allocated to assist municipal recycling systems was only a third of what regional waste management authorities were expecting as an interim payment.

Prior to the release of the budget estimates, the Province revealed a $5 billion plan to improve Saskatchewan’s transportation network. SUMA, as a partner of the Clearing the Path initiative, supports the plan as the highways network plays a critical role in developing communities and local industries as economic engines.

More detailed analysis of the Provincial Budget will be available at suma.org.