It looks like municipalities hoping for either a new infrastructure or revenue sharing program will have to wait until the provincial budget.
With the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention wrapping up in Saskatoon today, the government remains non-committal on either program.
La Ronge Mayor Thomas Sierzycki says as far as any changes to the current revenue sharing program goes, the municipality would be happy to keep the arrangement it currently has.
“And if we can retain that seven per cent which continues to be an increase because of the one per cent of the PST, we should be okay,” he says. “As long as we continue to have that one per cent, municipalities will continue to have the resources available to them that they need to grow.”
Larger urban municipalities such as Saskatoon and Regina are pushing for a larger percentage of revenue sharing dollars arguing the current arrangement does not reflect their population numbers within the province.
With the government giving indications of a tight budget, Sierzycki adds municipalities could very likely be waiting until 2014 and an injection of federal money for a new infrastructure program.
The issue of municipalities gaining local control to set off-sale liquor hours also remains in limbo with SUMA delegates appearing unable to agree on the issue.
Some northern communities, such as Prince Albert and La Ronge, would like the ability to set their own off-sale hours in an effort to curb problem after hours drinking.
However, others, such as Weyburn mayor and newly elected SUMA president Deb Button, have no interest in wading into the issue.