City administration brought good news to city council during day two of budget deliberations on Monday night. 

They were able to make a number of adjustments to the proposed 2021 budget 

These adjustments would bring the proposed tax hike down from 4.05 per cent to 2.58 per cent. 

City Manager Jim Puffalt did have a warning about the adjustments. 

“This budget is crafted on some one-time revenues that are pretty substantial and we don't know that we'll have that money in 2022 and so the concern, of course, is that or short-term gain can cause long-term pain,” he said 

City administration is expecting an increase in building permit revenue in 2021 of about $222,000 due to the joint-use school on South Hill. 

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Government recently announced the Saskatchewan Economic Recovery Rebate, which will save 10 per cent off of power bills. 

The city is estimating this will have $151,000 in the operating budget, $25,000 in waterworks, $59,00 in wastewater, and $1,000 in solid waste utilities. It would also likely impact Mosaic Place’s budget by about $39,000 and the Moose Jaw Police by $6,000. 

The provision for the 2021 Air Show was reduced from $20,000 to $5,000 as it is questionable whether the show will happen next year. 

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said there is a plan for the air show provision if it doesn't happen in 2021.  

“There's $5,000 remaining and that would go to we believe the 50th anniversary of the Snowbirds which we believe will be held in October of this year and I think as being good corporate partners, we would want to maintain that.” 

The city was also informed that the Multi-Material Recycling Grant will increase by $57,600 to $427,000. 

Administration is also learned that they will be receiving a $37,100 Workers Compensation Board rebate and will be eligible for the Saskatchewan Rinks Grant which would total $7,500 for city rinks and $5,000 for Mosaic Place/Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre. 

These would bring the tax increase on the operating budget down from 2.87 per cent to 1.4 per cent. 

Budget deliberations continue on Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.