Last year, cities across the province lost millions of dollars in provincial funding as the Saskatchewan Party government faced a cash strapped budget. Several funding sources were changed and that resulted in the City of Moose Jaw increasing taxes to make up for the shortfall. In the months that followed, Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie and many other municipal leaders across the province, let the province know of their displeasure with the decision and the hardships that they faced as a result.

While it's not all of the money, Tolmie was pleased to learn that the provincial budget last week has restored some of the funding to municipalities that was taken away. For Moose Jaw, it works out to around $900,000 per year through the SaskEnergy surcharge.

"We have to find out where it's going to be better allocated and if that's into the Capital Budget then that would be a very good decision. If it's into the Operating Budget then that would also be a good decision." said Tolmie.

"It's gotta be based on time, where we're at and we have to look at this as a whole picture."

City administration is expected to recommend that the money be used to do much needed infrastructure work. Finance Director Brian Acker explained that for 2019, the city is already facing an estimated $4.9 million shortfall.

The SaskEnergy surcharge is 5% on your bill that is supposed to go to the city in which the Crown Corporation operates, but the province decided to keep it last year as they faced increasing financial pressure.