There are no increases to taxes or utility fees. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

finances

La Ronge council passes operating, capital budgets

Nov 27, 2024 | 1:13 PM

The 2025 operating and capital budgets have been approved by La Ronge town council.

The decision to do so was made at a regular meeting earlier this week, following two open house sessions for the public to review the budgets on Nov. 20 and 22.

“We’ve been over this a few times and we presented it to the public and they seemed to be alright with it,” said Mayor Joe Hordyski.

Chief Administrative Officer Lyle Hannan also noted he hadn’t received any strong feedback one way or the other in regard to the budgets.

The operating budget for La Ronge is balanced with no increases in taxes or utility fees. The capital budget is calling for major investments in residential and commercial lot developments.

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In total, $4.1 million is earmarked for commercial land development servicing, $1.5 million for Phase 2 of the Robertson Drive residential development, and another $1.5 million for residential lot development along Studer Street. That spending, however, is contingent on whether or not the municipality is successful in its application to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund.

The capital project is also calling for $450,000 for green space along Robertson Drive, as well as an additional $100,000 for new signage downtown. An additional $1 million is to be spent on engineering designs for a new wastewater treatment plant. The total cost of that project is expected to be approximately $17.3 million.

Overall, revenue levels are up two per cent or $154,000 compared to 2024, while expenses are also up two per cent or $154,000 compared to this year.

In addition, Municipal Revenue Sharing revenue is up $50,000, as well as increased airport revenue due to fee increases of $200,000, and an increased SaskPower and SaskEnergy rebate of $90,000.

There will also be a decrease in protective services revenue due to the expiry of the enhanced policing credit from the RCMP ($225,000), decreased planning, development, and regulatory services revenue due to change in business licensing and lower cost recovery ($35,000), and decreased interest revenue due to decreased reserves and decreasing interest rates ($65,000).

There are also increased fire department wages primarily due to increased call volumes ($40,000), increased utilities expenses for emergent underground repairs and miscellaneous adjustments ($130,000), decreased transfer to reserves expenses ($24,000), decreased airport expenses primarily due to staff reductions ($43,000), and decreased election and council orientation related expenses ($25,000).

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com