By TERRY PUGH
After several years of fruitless discussions with neighbouring municipalities and the RCMP regarding the possibility of constructing a regional RCMP building, Warman City Council has decided to renovate and enlarge the existing detachment facility in Warman.
The decision is contained in the City of Warman’s 10-year capital plan, a comprehensive financial roadmap laying out the municipality’s annual spending priorities through to 2036. Warman City Council voted to adopt the 10-year capital plan at a meeting on Monday, February 23.
An administration report to the February 23 meeting stated that the projected cost of the renovation and addition of the existing Warman RCMP detachment building is about $7 million. This amounts to a little less than half of the estimated $15.2 million price tag for a new building.
“Of this amount, $1.9 million is proposed to be funded through reserves, with the balance funded through long-term debt,” stated the report. “The project remains scheduled for 2027.”
The RCMP building expansion is one of several big-ticket capital projects coming down the pipe in the near future, including a new $7 million municipal public works shop slated to begin construction this spring. The overall cost of the public works building also includes the cost of the 10-acre parcel of land in Warman’s south industrial area, utilities servicing, fencing, gates, landscaping and paving. The city had allocated $3 million to the project in the 2025 civic budget, and approved an additional $4 million in the 2026 budget. Approximately $2.5 million of that is slated to come out of the city’s Future Capital Reserves fund this year.
The public works shop has been on the city’s wish list for about a decade, but was continually deferred because of more pressing water and sewer infrastructure investments that took priority.
The city’s public works department has outgrown the existing facility on North Railway Street West. Growing demand for snow-clearing and street maintenance has translated into a pressing need for increased indoor space for vehicle storage and repairs.
The new shop is designed to accommodate future population growth, increased operations staff, and equipment capacity. Additional equipment such as gravel trucks, tractors, a fourth grader and a hydrovac trailer is expected to enhance snow removal, maintenance and response times.
A much-needed expansion to Warman City Hall is expected to be on the table when council begins deliberations for its 2027 municipal budget later this year. The project, estimated to cost about $4 million, is among the capital investments listed for 2027-2028. The 10-year capital plan allocates $1.2 million to the project from reserves in 2027 and a further $2.5 million from reserves in 2028. The project was originally slated to begin in 2026 but was deferred in order to allocate additional financial resources toward the public works shop.
The 10-year capital plan anticipates significant increases in expenditures for several city departments in 2027.
“Total capital spending for 2027 is projected at $14.4 million compared to $8.7 million in 2026,” stated the administration report. “Major contributing projects include: a new Lift Station 1 ($6 million), Diamond Arena upgrades ($1.75 million), Municipal Reserve (MR) 21 development (1.25 million).”
In addition, capital expenses for the city’s fire protection services have been increased by $1.1 million over the ten-year period from 2027-2036 to reflect updated market costs for equipment.
While Saskatchewan cities are required to prepare a five-year capital plan under the Canadian Community Building Fund, the City of Warman has opted to take “a longer-term view of anticipated infrastructure needs, budget planning and resource allocation,” according to the adminstration report to the February 23 council meeting. “A 10-year outlook provides a clearer understanding of projected capital requirements and the timing of major projects, which supports more consistent financial planning and long-range service delivery.”
The report notes that the long-range capital plan is subject to change as circumstances dictate.
“It does not create a binding commitment for future (city) councils, nor does it confirm project approval or funding allocation,” stated the report. “All individual capital projects, along with their associated funding sources, will continue to be brought forward and considered through the annual budget process. Council will also have the opportunity to review and evaluate the detailed 2027 capital budget during the presentation of the 2027 Capital Budget this fall.”