The 2021 budget is done in Battleford, with council approving a zero percent increaseÌýfor both general operations and utilities on Monday night.
The budget was approved as presented Monday at town council, with all members of council voting in favour. The meeting was held live at the Alex Dillabough Centre in Battleford.Ìý
Council had previously gone through the budget on Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. At the latest meeting, all the department heads presented the budgets for their departments one by one.
The final discussions Monday went smoothly and there were no outstanding issues to deal with, as council liked what they saw in the budget presented by administration.
There are a number of capital items included for 2021. A big item is paving and curbing on 1st Avenue from Campbell Innes Way to Battle Springs Drive for $284,000.
A new sidewalk on the east side of 2nd Avene from 17th to 19th Streets will also go ahead for $85,000.Ìý
Also going ahead is purchase of a tandem gravel truck for $158,000, asphalt walking trails for $100,000, campground sites servicing for $65,000, the Riverbend drainage project for $66,000, $60,000 for miscellaneous smaller equipment, $32,000 for the columbarium at the cemetery, and $20,000 for sidewalk repair.
The town is also saving in 2021 for future spending on several other projects including cemetery expansion, playground and park equipment, replacement of the town garbage truck, Tot Lot upgrades, a new cold storage building, the public works building roof replacement, and large scale upgrades and expansion at Battleford Arena.
On the utilities side the major project for 2021 is completion of the sewer lagoon project that began in 2020. The total cost is $7.3 million and the town’s portion is $3.4 million. According to the budget document about $700,000 in work is left to go with a completion date of June of 2021.
Other projects include a new water well at $150,000 and an emergency backup generator at the Water Treatment Plant for $180,000. Additional saving will happen for future projects including lift station upgrades, water meter data collection equipment, wells raw water intake line upgrades and a truck replacement.
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