By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
Maintaining and improving roads, sidewalks and water/wastewater infrastructure was cited as the top concern of Martensville residents in a public consultation on the 2027 Municipal Budget, according to a report presented to City of Martensville councillors at their October 6 meeting.
Economic Development Manager Dillon Shewchuk, who presented the report, indicated that this was the first time he could recall that the city had undertaken this kind of engagement.
As noted in the report, the purpose of the consultation was to provide residents with the opportunity to identify the municipal services, infrastructure and community priorities they believe should receive the most consideration during the budget process.
The overall consultation ran from June 6 to July 18, 2026. It mostly centred on an online public survey promoted via social media and a dedicated webpage on the city’s website, though Shewchuk did point out that they also hosted an in-person “budget priorities exercise” during Buster Days.
The survey asked residents about the services they believe provide the greatest value, their current level of satisfaction with existing infrastructure, priorities for additional funding, the perceived value received from municipal taxes and preferred methods for acquiring more funding if necessary.
A total of 260 valid survey responses were received, with adults between the ages of 35 and 54 making up nearly 60% of respondents. More than 80% had lived in Martensville for over six years.
As well, about 90 adults and youth participated in the budget priorities exercise.
Councillor Brad Blixt asked if 260 survey responses constituted a “statistically relevant” response rate, given that Martensville had around 3,000 to 4,000 households.
City manager Tanya Garost responded that in order to achieve that response rate, they would have to track the number of surveys that went out and make sure that enough surveys reached a statistically appropriate portion of the population.
Even so, Shewchuk said he believed this engagement received a better public reaction than other similar consultations in the past. “I feel very good about our effort to try and provide this opportunity out to the public,” he said.
As indicated earlier, core municipal infrastructure and services like snow removal and winter maintenance was the top priority among responses.
Interestingly, youth in particular “overwhelmingly” prioritized parks, outdoor spaces and recreational amenities, while adults put more emphasis on core infrastructure. Respondents in general indicated a preference for maintaining and improving existing assets before creating new facilities.
Another secondary theme was around community safety and the necessity of bylaw, fire and emergency services.
Surprisingly, keeping taxes as low as possible was not identified as the highest-rated approach when it comes to funding services. Instead, feedback suggested a preference for balancing growth with maintaining services.
Shewchuk also pointed out that communication was frequently highlighted as a concern among respondents, with more than half of them indicating they were not well-informed about tax dollars and budget decisions.
“Overall, the engagement results present a clear and consistent message. Residents value the services provided by the City and expect continued investment in core infrastructure, community safety, and well-maintained public amenities. They also recognize the importance of balancing future growth with affordability and responsible financial management,” the report states.