By TERRY PUGH
Elected representatives of Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities want the provincial government to either collect its own education property tax directly, or else reinstate a grant to towns and cities that compensates them for the administrative burden of collection.
Delegates to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) annual convention in Regina April 13 voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution to that effect.
Delegates also expressed their desire for their communities to be less dependent on property taxes for raising revenue. The resolution urged the province to allow municipalities to “access alternative revenue options” such as taxes and levies for infrastructure.
The resolution, submitted by the City of Regina, also urged the province to exempt municipalities from Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on construction projects, and reinstate municipal payments in lieu for electrical revenues from Sask Power.
During debate on the resolution April 13, Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said current taxation tools don’t match the growing demands and complexities of services delivered by cities and towns.
“The goal of this resolution is to spark a conversation and open up a dialogue about what modern taxation tools look like in all municipalities, said Bachynski. “This is about exploring what tools we need to deliver services our residents expect.”
LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY FUNDING
A resolution advocating that SUMA lobby the provincial government to increase funding to local Housing Authorities was passed by a wide margin at the SUMA convention April 13.
During debate on the resolution, an Estevan city councillor noted that about 60 local housing authority units in that community are currently vacant.
“Of those 60 units, 50 have fallen into a state of disrepair,” said the councillor. “They’ve been empty since the flood of 2014. In talking to other communities, we find they also have empty units..”
The councillor said local Housing Authorities play a critical role in managing and maintaining affordable housing units for low and moderate-income residents; but rising costs for maintenance, utilities, insurance and staffing have placed a major financial strain on these local Housing Authorities, and additional funds are needed to meet the increased demand.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON PROVINCIAL HIGHWAYS
SUMA delegates believe local fire departments and municipalities shouldn’t have to bear the cost of cleaning up hazardous spills along provincial highways.
A resolution to that effect put forward by the Town of Balgonie passed by a vote of 289 to 4 at the SUMA convention April 13.
Local fire departments provide essential emergency services by responding to incidents and accidents on provincial highways. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the first payer for fire department charges related to vehicle losses, including fire suppression, rescue and extraction services, based on SGI-established rates.
However, SGI does not reimburse local fire departments for services when the responsible driver and vehicle is unknown; leaving the local fire department and municipality to pick up the tab.
Balgonie Mayor Laine Lovelace said this policy unfairly shifts the financial burden onto the local municipality. He pointed to a serious incident two years ago that highlighted the flaws in the current policy.
“On the Thanksgiving weekend in 2024, there was an incident where 14 tonnes of hazardous material was spilled over a 14 kilometer stretch of highway,” said Lovelace. “The RCMP investigation was not able to identify the responsible party.
“The hazardous material was a carcinogen that ignited in several locations, and immediate action was required to keep the fires from spreading.,” he added. “Temporary road restrictions had to be implemented, and several fire departments sustained a 36-hour response to protect the travelling public.
“SGI denied reimbursement for all these expenses because no vehicle was identified. This is unacceptable. Municipalities can’t refuse to respond to these types of emergencies, and they should not be forced to bear the entire cost.”
OTHER RESOLUTIONS
SUMA delegates voted in favour of four other resolutions at the convention. They included:
* Opposition to the closure or downsizing of federal research farms;
* A call for improving federal census procedures;
* Advocating for proactive wildfire mitigation measures by the provincial and federal governments; and
* A suggestion that a system of rotating schedule of bylaw enforcement officials throughout Northern Saskatchewan be implemented by the province.