麻豆视频

When Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney looks back on 2018 the highlight is easy, the start on repaving Broadway Street.

鈥淲hen I talk to people I鈥檝e gotten the most kudos on the Broadway repaving,鈥� he said.

The work does come with some disappointment for Council though.

鈥淲e waited as long as we possibly could for funding to do the underpinnings (water and sewer lines), and paving,鈥� said Maloney, adding when no federal or provincial dollars were forthcoming 鈥渨e did a shave and pave鈥� skimming off the damaged upper layer of pavement and replacing it.

As is often the case with issues in municipal affairs the project will also be a huge part of the City鈥檚 undertakings in 2019.

鈥淭he other half will get done in the spring,鈥� said Maloney.

Maloney said overall the Broadway effort is 鈥渁 feel good project鈥�, but again cautioned there is an element of risk. The underground infrastructure is in some cases 90 years old, and if it breaks, the new pavement will need to be torn up to do repairs.

But a complete replacement of the pavement and underground services would have come with a price tag of some $52 million.

鈥淥ur entire borrowing limit is $42 million. We don鈥檛 have the capacity,鈥� said Maloney.

Funding for projects is one of the issues that Maloney said extends from one year to the next for a municipal government.

Looking to 2019, Maloney said he expects the budget process to be a tough one as Council looks to hold the line on taxes for the most part.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no appetite on this Council for further increases,鈥� he said, adding in general terms that means looking at an increase of three per cent, or less, with most of that targeted at capital spending.

On the operating side Maloney said the City has operated with annual increases of one per cent or less for several years.

鈥淥ne or two per cent increases on operation is very defendable,鈥� he said, adding there are costs such as wages, which do rise on the operating side of things.

In terms of wages the City did come to terms in 2018 with its firefighters on a new contract.

鈥淚 thought it was a very fair deal,鈥� said Maloney, adding that having the contract cover six years allows for stability in the immediate years ahead.

Maloney added it is important to note the new contract 鈥渨as freely negotiated. There was no undue pressure being brought to bear on either side.鈥�

When it comes to negotiations, Maloney said he looks at progress made by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, (SUMA), in terms of being kept in the loop by the province regarding its budget as a very positive development this year.

The Yorkton Mayor said SUMA was afforded 鈥渦nprecedented consultation鈥� with the province prior to its 2018 budget.

Maloney said being kept in the loop leading up to the last budget at least left municipalities feeling as though they were part of the final deliberations.

鈥淒oors were open,鈥� he said.

As it stands Maloney said only about three per cent of the provincial budget flows to urban municipalities, towns, villages and cities.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a heckuva investment,鈥� he said, adding for that money municipalities provide streets and firefighters, policing, arenas and a whole range of services to the majority of people living in Saskatchewan.

As for the year ahead, Maloney said money will be tight.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a tough year,鈥� he said, adding there was a significant increase in taxes locally in 2018. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to have that (in 2019).鈥�