Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Huge infrastructure deficit in proposed capital budget

By Lisa Goudy


Council had its first look at the preliminary 2013-2017 capital budget at Monday’s regular meeting. Once again the city is faced with huge infrastructure deficit.

Mayor Deb Higgins asks a question regarding the
capital expenditure fund interest earnings as it
relates to the proposed 2013-2017 capital budget
estimates during Monday's council meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Director of financial services Brian Acker and city manager Garry McKay presented the five-year estimates to council. The majority of council voted to refer the estimates to budget committee for detailed review.

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Additional information

Funding sources for the general reserve

There are nine main sources for the general reserve portion of the 2013-2017 capital budget comes from nine main sources. For instance, one funding source is the Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SPC) municipal surcharge levied on power bills in the city at a rate of 10 per cent of total billing.

A 2013 initiative made via the operating budget was to redirect $300,000 of those franchise fees from the operating budget to the capital budget. The contribution to the general reserve over five years is $19.47 million.

Another funding source is the hospital levy. The levy is estimated to generate $1.54 million a year and $7.69 million over five years. Other funding sources include taxation revenue, capital expenditure fund interest earnings, land sale proceeds, parks dedication reserve funding, federal and provincial contributions and the downtown facility capital contribution.

The other three sources are fundraising contributions, multiplex carry forward and uncompleted works.