The City of Martensville Council approved the 2020 Budget at the February 18 Council Meeting. Prioritizing capital projects and identifying the wants and needs of the community were the focus of budget meetings over the past number of months.
“City of Martensville Administration has presented a balanced budget that aligns with Council’s priorities and enhances the services and amenities in Martensville,” says Mayor Kent Muench. “We are investing just over $3 million in capital projects including $1,500,000 in roadways thanks, in part, to the Federal Gas Tax Fund Program. We are also partnering with the RM of Corman Park and the City of Warman to pave Township Road 384 (Martensville Main Street extension) east to Highway 11. Another significant project for the City includes further enhancements to the new outdoor rink at the Sports Centre. We will be adding a warmup building adjacent to the rink as well as hard surfacing the arena base (asphalt). This will accommodate summer activities. Council also continues to develop the Kinsmen Park Master Plan through pathway paving for 2020”
2020 will also be an exciting year as the City continues to invest in a future recreation facility for the residents of Martensville and the region. The location for the new facility will be selected and publicized in the coming months and the City will be applying for a significant infrastructure grant to assist with the funding of the new facility.
The City has budgeted for a 1.9% increase in total property tax revenue after assessment growth. As a result, the average homeowner in Martensville will see an increase to their municipal property tax levy of approximately $38.00 per year or $3.17 per month for those on TIPPS, an increase of 1.85%. Increases will affect all properties differently dependent on assessment values. The actual 2020 mill rate will be reviewed and set in the coming months after the release of the provincial budget in March.
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 21.69%. Revenues from fees and services comprise 15.71% of the City’s revenue stream, an increase over prior years. 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.
Your 2020 Tax Dollar
Have you ever wondered how each tax dollar is spent? The image below shows the 2020 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 2020 approved spending, please refer to the 2020 Budget Highlights.
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.
2020 Budget Highlights
Water & Sewer
– The $75.00 base tax amount will continue for 2020 to fund a reserve for future wastewater treatment.
– The New Building Canada Fund project for Wastewater Treatment and Water Distribution will continue to move ahead in 2020 with upgrades at Pump and Lift Station #1 being completed and next phases of the project to be started. 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 lagoons, build a new gravity conveyance system to connect to the City of Saskatoon’s sanitary sewer system, and upgrade the existing sewage lift station. 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
2022.
– The Third Avenue South Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project will continue in the spring to complete the project that was started in fall of 2019.
Emergency & Protective Services
RCMP
– The RCMP detachment will remain at the current staffing level for 2020. This is the equivalent of 8 full time members.
Fire Department & Emergency Measures Organization (EMO)
– The Martensville Fire Department’s new medical unit (tendered and started in 2019) will be completed and delivered in 2020 and will assist the first responders attending medical calls.
– The City will be investing in electric extrication equipment for the department.
– Two generators will be purchased for City Hall and the NRCCC to plan for EMO needs in the event of an emergency in the community.
Infrastructure & Planning
Land Development & Land Use Planning
– The Southeast Sector Plan will be completed as well as the updated Official Community Plan (OCP).
– 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 $1,500,000 to roadways in 2020. This is possible due to accessing $900,000 of the City’s Federal Gas Tax Funding to prioritize our roadways and align with Council’s priorities that infrastructure is maintained and at optimum service levels.
– Street lighting along 10th Avenue South and the Traffic Circle at Main Street and 10th Avenue will be installed.
– The City’s first pedestrian crosswalk with lighting will be installed at a location to be determined.
Recreation & Community Services
– The City will continue to invest in a new multi-purpose recreation facility for the community, including finalizing the facility location, completing and submitting a major grant application. The City will continue its engagement with DCG to assist the Lace Em Up campaign to fundraise for the new facility. We have engaged aodbt and Wright Construction to design/plan the facility and provide an accurate cost projection.
– Work on the Kinsmen Park Master Plan will continue with investment in paving existing crusher dust pathways approved under capital projects, as well as additional plantings in the park.
– Playground equipment at Andrea’s Park will be replaced in 2020 in order to update and enhance the safety of equipment in the park.
– The new Outdoor Skating Rink adjacent to the Sports Centre will be further enhanced in 2020 with a support building being added, as well as asphalt surfacing inside the boards to accommodate summer activities.