By TERRY PUGH
Warman residents and businesses will have to dig a little deeper into their wallets next year.
Warman City Council voted at its meeting December 16 to approve the 2025 civic budget, which includes a 3.98% increase in the municipal portion of property taxes.
The tax hike is lower than the 5% increase in the 2024 budget, but higher than the 3% increase in 2023. According to city officials, the hike is aimed at softening the impact of inflation while supporting current and future needs of the community.
The increase includes a $75 hike in the Recreation Levy to $150 per year per property. The Recreation Levy was introduced last year as part of the 2024 budget to help cover the cost of the expansion to the Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC) and future recreational amenities. The levy accounts for approximately 3% of the 2025 municipal tax increase.
The property tax hike also covers a 1% increase in the city’s general net operating expenses.
According to the figures provided by the city’s finance department, the 3.98% increase translates into an additional $98 per year (or roughly $8.20 per month) for the average residential home in Warman assessed at $350,000.
Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk said the increase in the municipal portion of property taxes is needed to maintain the current level of services, amenities and infrastructure.
He described the budget process as a balancing act, noting the city is facing rising costs in all areas. The city’s preliminary budget initially pegged the tax increase at 5%, but it was reduced to under 4% during final budget discussions at a special meeting of council on Wednesday, December 11.
“Council and Administration focused on ensuring the continuance of the quality of programs, services and branding throughout the budget process while planning to increase capacity with a new Public Works building and needed equipment to meet future demands,” said Philipchuk. “It was essential to look after the staff in these inflationary times while maintaining city council’s reponsibility as stewards of the public purse.”
The 2025 balanced budget includes:
* $29,266,120 in operating revenue;
* $21,147,579 in operating expenses;
*$20,410,463 in capital expenditures;
* $8,118,541 in transfers to allocated reserves;
* $7,468,425 in transfers from allocated reserves to support capital purchases; and
* $12,942,038 in required debt to support capital purchases.
Among the big ticket items included in the 2025 capital budget are $15 million for the completion of the WHCC expansion project; a $3 million allocation for a new public works shop to replace the current aging, undersized facility; and $1.3 million earmarked for street improvements.
A new set of traffic signals is slated to be installed in 2025 at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and Central Street at a cost of $200,000. A grant application has been submitted to the SGI Traffic Safety Unit to help offset costs on this project.
The city has allocated $90,000 in the upcoming budget for a design and feasibility study for Lift Station #1. This is one of the last lift stations requiring upgrades and improvements. Several new pieces of public works machinery are also in the budget.