Last week, the City of Selkirk held their public hearing for the 2024 financial plan.
Mayor Larry Johannson opened the meeting and led listeners through the presentation.
“Our mission is the City of Selkirk provides infrastructure and services that sustain a safe and caring community and a vibrant regional hub for commerce, culture and recreation. We are the responsible stewards of community resources and the catalyst for partnerships that enhance opportunity and quality of life for all our citizens,” said Johannson.
He said that the 2024 budget came together quite nicely allowing them to deliver a budget that has minimal increase and no cuts to services.
Johannson went over a slide providing details about the city’s operating budget. From that slide, he explained that the cost of providing city services drives most of the demand for taxes.
Some projects that he discussed that are upcoming for the city include a $3.6 million capital project to upgrade Main St. by resurfacing a new bike lane on both sides of the street, improved active transportation pathway, new street trees, naturalized planting, and modern assessable crosswalks. This project will take advantage of provincial and federal grants to help keep costs lower for residents. Another project will be the 200 block of Toronto is getting a full reconstruction at a cost of 1.8 million. The city’s utility portion is $962,000. There is also a $1.1 million retrofit in the 2024 budget to help the Garry Theater get off the ground, with the province covering $563,000. Residents also can be on the lookout for a feasibility study for a multipurpose facility to replace the Selkirk Arena, also known as the Barn, which will be completed in 2024 and public engagement and the detailed design of the proposed facility will begin.
Some areas where costs have risen in the city include policing, insurance, increased calls to the fire department, the management contract at the waste transfer station has increased, and the city will provide a time-limited operating grant for the Garry Theater to get the new theatre started.
Something that residents should be aware of is a new protective services special service tax levy. This will not affect individual households but properties like police, fire, emergency measures, and weed control. The presentation indicated that hospitals, schools, provincial housing, and the City of Selkirk’s own properties will now be levied for this service and that a separate line will appear on your tax bill showing your share of the protective services cost.
As for the tax rate, the mayor said that “there will be a small 1% municipal tax rate increase for Selkirk residents in the 2024 budget.” He also commented that this was below the rate of inflation.
Johannson concluded the presentation by saying. “Your council and city administration have worked very, very hard to keep this year’s budget as tight as we can. It’s a balancing act, like it is every year, but even more so this time with inflation being what it is. We are very proud of the work that went into this budget and we’re really proud of all the good work that’s been done over the years. This 2024 budget is a year for building off all our successes.”
Residents can view the 2024 financial plan presentation at 2024-Financial-Plan-Presentation.pdf.
