City Approves Photo Radar Agreement For One Year Despite Revenue Drop
By Robert Thomas
Despite misgivings about the funding formula Council agreed to re-new the Automated Speed Agreement (photo radar) with SGI.
“The nicest thing I can say about this is we do not agree with the distribution changes that were made. We lobbied, we were unsuccessful, so this is as good as it gets,” city manager Jim Puffalt told Council when presenting the agreement for renewal.
Initially installed as a three year pilot project in 2015 photo radar was designed to slow down speeding motorists in areas where there were serious traffic incidents or the potential for such incidents.
Critics however have called photo radar in the community a “cash cow”.
Three locations were established - the intersection of 9th Avenue NW and the Trans Canada Highway, Caribou Street adjacent William Grayson Elementary School and on Grace Street.
The pilot project financial agreement saw the Province receive 25 percent to cover their costs, with the City responsible for the operational costs and any remaining funds flowing into local safety initiatives.
Under a new agreement, crafted in 2019 after the pilot program was made permanent the formula changed where the City would receive a smaller percentage of revenues with an equal share going to a provincial pool to be spent on traffic safety initiatives elsewhere in the province.
The new revenue formula was:
25 percent to the General Revenue Fund (Provincial Operating Budget).
55 percent to cover expenses* This includes roughly 2.5% to cover Justice’s expenses (ie. Credit card surcharge and collections surcharge).
10 percent to the City of Moose Jaw
10 percent to the provincial traffic safety pool.
Additionally a report to Council stated if the 55 percent did not cover expenses the amounts still owing would come out of the City of Moose Jaw’s share, but the City would not be responsible for additional funds if the 10 percent did not cover operational shortfalls.
According to their preliminary year end financials to date the City received $374,866 in photo radar revenue with the budget calling for $637,000 in revenue. The 2021 budget calls for $243,370 in revenues from photo radar.
“I completely agree with you Mr Puffalt about the distribution of funds it’s a big bee in my bonnet as well but I like to see us getting some money as opposed to getting no money at all,” Councillor Crystal Froese said.
Mayor Fraser Tolmie pointed out the safety impact of the speed enforcement cameras.
“I want to talk about the impact of these speed enforcement cameras in a positive way and the impact they have had in driving within our community. I think the safety aspect is important. We may not get the best financial deal out of this but it does play a safety role and so we cannot lose sight of that,” Mayor Tolmie said.
In an October 6th, 2020 MJ Independent article Moose Jaw Police Service staff sgt Randy Jesse agreed with the Mayor stating the cameras were not about generating income but increasing traffic safety.
““It’s not about generating tax revenue but reducing collisions,” Staff Sgt Jesse told MJ Independent at the time.
However in February 2021 Council was told due to the changes in the funding formula the City was only receiving one third of the revenue than under the initial agreement.
With no further discussion Council unanimously approved to extend the photo radar agreement for another year.