Home » Building Infrastructure & Managing Rising Costs: Council Approves 2023 Budget

Building Infrastructure & Managing Rising Costs: Council Approves 2023 Budget

by City of Martensville

Martensville City Council formally approved the 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets at the February 21st, 2023, Regular Council Meeting. Over the past number of months, City Council has reviewed and deliberated over the budget with efforts to maintain current service levels a top priority, while managing rising costs.

The City has budgeted for a 3% increase in total property tax revenue. The average homeowner in Martensville with an assessed value of $335,000 will see an estimated increase to their municipal property taxes of $5.75 per month. Increases in property taxes are attributed to several factors for 2023 including a significant increase in the cost of contracted services with the RCMP and the overall rising costs of goods and services.

The City also continues to work towards the new multipurpose recreation facility as committed in 2020. Construction is underway and will be funded through allocated reserves, long-term borrowing, fundraising and the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the grant approved by the Federal and Provincial governments in 2022.

In 2023, the City will invest just over $33 million in capital projects including: $25 million for the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre, $5.1 million in water and wastewater upgrades through the New Build Canada Fund; $1 million on roadway upgrades and maintenance; and $800,000 on upgrades and improvements in parks, sports fields, and playgrounds. The City has also allocated funds towards a study evaluating the development of a future temporary pedestrian overpass with the Ministry of Highways to the west side of Highway 12.

“This year’s budget was very much a challenge,” says Mayor Kent Muench. “On one side it provided some great opportunities, specifically around the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre and the progression of the water and wastewater project with the City of Saskatoon. On the other hand, we are seeing the challenges around rising costs of goods and servicing such as policing. We still aim to maintain and even increase service levels while keeping increases at or below 3% over the last 4 consecutive budgets.”

For more information on the 2023 Capital and Operating Budgets, along with departmental highlights, visit our website at: https://www.martensville.ca/pages/budgets__finances.html

How is Martensville Funded?

The City of Martensville collects most of its revenue through Property Taxes as shown below, however other revenue streams also help fund the infrastructure, programs, and services offered in the City.

Another significant source of revenue is Government Grant funding at 24.01%. These grants are used for a variety of capital projects in the City, as well as general operations as allowed. Revenues from Fees & Services comprise 17.92% of the City’s revenue stream. Examples include things like recreation programming user fees, the garbage & recycling program fees, facility rental fees and many others.

The City continues to look for alternative funding opportunities to ensure that we can maintain and grow all that the City of Martensville offers.

Note that we do not include the City’s Water & Sewer Utility Department here as this department only funds the Water & Sewer infrastructure and operations.

Further for 2023 we have not included the construction of the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre in this chart as it has separate and specific funding through allocated reserves, long-term borrowing, fundraising and the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the grant approved by the Federal and Provincial governments in 2022.

Your 2023 Tax Dollar

Have you ever wondered how each tax dollar is spent? The image provided shows the 2023 City of Martensville Budget broken down into different functions in the City.

Each dollar spent is put into essential infrastructure and service needs for the residents and businesses in Martensville. For more detailed information on the 2023 approved spending, please refer to the 2023 Budget Highlights by Department.

Note that this image does not include the Water & Sewer Utility Department as this is operated as a fee for service department and is not funded by general property taxation.

Further for 2023 we have not included the construction of the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre in this chart as it has separate and specific funding through allocated reserves, long-term borrowing, fundraising and the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the grant approved by the Federal and Provincial governments in 2022.

Department Updates
General Government
• The City has included an increase to total property tax revenue of 3% in the budget.

Water & Sewer
• The $75.00 base tax levy will continue for 2023 to fund a reserve for future wastewater treatment.
• There are no increases to flat fees or water consumption rates planned for 2023.
• The New Building Canada Fund project for Wastewater Treatment and Water Distribution will continue to move ahead in 2023 with the next phases of the project to begin. Under the New Building Canada Fund, approved projects are funded one-third by the Government of Canada, one-third through the Provincial Government and the final one-third at the municipal level. The funding will allow the City to upgrade its existing lagoon, build a new pipeline to connect to the City of Saskatoon’s sanitary sewer system, and upgrade existing sewage lift stations. In addition, upgrades to the water supply reservoir and pumping stations and a new water main will connect to Saskatoon’s drinking water supply system. It is estimated that the project should be completed in 2025.
• The City will be purchasing a valve/curbstop maintenance trailer in 2023. The trailer is specifically designed for use in water valve maintenance. It is a self-contained combination of a small hydro-vac system to clean out debris from the valves, a hydraulic valve turning machine, and a data logging system. The system allows for difficult valves to be exercised while reducing the chances of damaging the valves. This trailer also makes the job of exercising valves less physically demanding on our operators, reducing the risks of injuries.

Emergency & Protective Services
RCMP
• The RCMP detachment will remain at the current staffing level for 2023. This is the equivalent of 8 full time members.
• A collective agreement for the RCMP was finalized in 2021 and approximately five years of retro pay are expected to be billed in 2023 from the Federal Government, along with a significant annual increase for 2023. The City will fund the one-time retro pay amounts through reserves.
Fire Department
• The City will pursue SGI grant funding to invest in Transportation Rescue Extrication (TREX) tools. This equipment and training ensure that firefighters have the skills and tools needed for safer and more efficient response to motor vehicle collisions.

Infrastructure & Planning
Land Development & Land Use Planning
• Numerous projects are planned for 2023 including the completion of the Southeast Sector Plan, aligning the City’s OCP with the new P4G District OCP, a full zoning bylaw update and the 2040 Growth Plan update.
• The City continues to support and participate in the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) and work with partners to advance plans for land use, transportation, and servicing in the region.
Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance
• As per the Pavement Assessment and Pavement Management Plan approved in 2017, Council has committed $1,000,000 to roadways in 2023. This is possible due to accessing $596,000 of the City’s Canada Community Building Funding (formerly the Gas Tax Program) to prioritize our roadways and align with Council’s priorities that infrastructure is maintained and at optimum service levels.
• The design and first phase of construction of an equipment shelter at the Public Works Shop will begin.
• The City will add LED stop signs at the intersection of Main Street and 8th Avenue.
• The City has also allocated funds towards a study evaluating the development of a future temporary pedestrian overpass with the Ministry of Highways to the west side of Highway 12.

Recreation & Community Services
• The City will continue to invest in the construction of the new Martensville Community Recreation Centre, with construction already underway. We have engaged aodbt and Wright Construction to design/plan and build the facility. This new facility is funded through allocated reserves, long-term borrowing, fundraising and the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the grant approved by the Federal and Provincial governments in 2022.
• Significant rehabilitation work will continue on the City’s pathways network.
• Through a partnership with the Martensville Lions Club, the Lions Playground will be upgraded.

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