Municipalities are facing costs of providing certain services through the time of COVID-19, without some of the revenues associated with those services.
So the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is letting the federal government know its members could use some dollars to offset the losses, said Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden who also sits on the FCM Board.
As an example, Goulden said public transportation is a huge cost for some municipalities, adding not all municipalities are facing the exact same impacts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 (public transportation) a huge cost to many of the large cities,鈥� said Goulden after participating an FCM meeting via Zoom last week.
Even in Yorkton, while public busing is not a huge cost, revenues are lower 鈥渂ecause ridership is way down.鈥� The lost revenue does not mean the cost of operating the buses, driver wages and maintenance have gone down.
That said it is a service municipalities want to maintain 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 an essential service to many,鈥� said Goulden.
In the same vein Goulden said municipalities face many of the operational costs associated with recreational facilities, again without the associated revenues.
For example, city ball diamonds and soccer pitches may see little or no use this year.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 let the grass continue to grow,鈥� said Goulden, adding that means a cost to the city.
Similarly, the Gallagher Centre must be maintained, 鈥渂ut there鈥檚 no revenue.聽 We haven鈥檛 booked any events.鈥�
So FCM, which represents rural and urban municipalities and counties, is talking to federal officials about help to offset the costs.
The recent Zoom meeting also dealt with how FCM will hold upcoming board elections since the annual convention scheduled for Toronto will not be held.
Goulden, who is set to seek re-election said and electronic election process was approved, that will take place this fall.
