The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Creighton town council has adopted a new budget that cuts the mill rate, hikes the minimum tax and invests in the anticipated growth of the community. Mayor Bruce Fidler said the $4.08-million 2013-14 budget, approved unanimously last month, accomplishes council's goals. 'I'm extremely pleased that we're able to keep taxes as low as we can and yet we're continuing to give our residents the best service we feel that we can,' he said. The budget lowers the mill rate _ the portion of property taxes that funds the municipal government _ by 26 per cent, from 13.5 mills to 10 mills. Mayor Fidler said this was done to reflect the fact that 2013 is an assessment year in which Creighton property values increased. Holding the mill rate level would have meant higher taxes for homes that rose in value. Even with council lowering the rate, some homeowners may face higher taxes, and some lower taxes, depending on their individual property assessments. Lower-end homeowners know for certain they face an increase. Council has boosted the minimum property tax across Creighton by $50, or seven per cent, to $750 per year. Mayor Fidler called this a 'slight increase' enacted in an effort to maintain a level playing field in terms of taxation. The Saskatchewan government has already lowered the education levy, the portion of property taxes that fund public schools. In terms of capital projects, Creighton's biggest undertaking this year is $750,000 to nearly complete 15 new residential lots at the end of Collins Street. See 'Ready' on pg. Continued from pg. Physical work on the serviced lots is set to begin later this summer. The lots should be ready for sale in 2014. Council had already put $600,000 into a reserve fund to develop the lots. The remaining cost, a little over $150,000, is to be included in next year's budget. This year's budget also includes $100,000 to develop a haul road leading to the future site of the Collins Street lots. The road, accessible near Punkert Park, will give heavy equipment access to the site without moving through residential areas, which would damage pavement and cause safety problems. The road will remain as a permanent access point after the lots are developed. Creighton's budget features total spending of $4,078,210, a rise of $804,747, or 25 per cent, over projected spending in 2012-13. However, while the town planned to spend $3,273,300 in 2012-13, that fiscal year ended up generating a surplus of $247,983. Other capital investments in the latest budget: $100,000 into a reserve fund to eventually purchase a new pumper truck for the fire department. Including money from previous years, the fund will now have $300,000. The new truck, which will replace a 1985 model, will be purchased in 2014 at the earliest. $50,000 for a computerization upgrade at the water treatment plant. $30,000 for beautification. Specifically, the town is looking at holiday 'net' lighting for trees in the Main Street area as well as new decorations for the poles. Also planned is sod and crushed rock to beautify the vacant lot at the corner of Nejedly Street and Creighton Avenue by the RCMP station. $30,000 to landscape the site of the new columbarium and memory wall. Some ashes of the departed have already been placed in the columbarium, and some engraved metal leaves for the memory wall have been purchased. $20,000 for safety-related upgrades to a lift station. $7,500 for playground equipment _ a little fire truck with a built-in slide _ at Punkert Park. $5,000 for a new computer, and upgrades to existing computers, at the town office. Funding to build a new sidewalk along Creighton Avenue from Park Street to Queen Street. The exact amount will not be known until after tenders close on July 8.
