What Is The Best Budget Balance For Core Infrastructure Vs Recreation - We Ask The New Mayor
It is not all about fixing roads, bridges and water mains you need to have recreational opportunities as well and the City has the financial resources to facilitate them that is the response from Mayor Clive Tolley.
In the post Council scrum MJ Independent asked a series of questions of Mayor Tolley about where he sees the money come from and if the City is not over balancing too much in favour on spending on recreational opportunities.
The questions were asked to gain a better insight into the upcoming Budget deliberations.
“I think the City of Moose Jaw despite COVID, despite some of the problems we and other communities have had or other municipalities have had, we are overall in strong financial shape,” his Worship answered when asked where the City would get the money and if the City could afford four proposed recreational projects.
The four projects listed was a $100,000 request from the Moose Jaw Tennis Club for upgrade assistance, proposed pickleball courts, a spray park proposed for Regal Heights Park (that has municipal tax status to fundraise) and upgrades to Moose Square Park.
“We need to spend some money on recreational facilities. Not only to keep the current citizens healthy and happy and fit but also to draw new people into our city. During the campaign I talked about the need to grow this city that means we need to attract people to work and live here,” Mayor Tolley responded.
“And that means we need to have good facilities so I am all behind all the money we are spending in terms of fitness and recreation facilities for both the people who are here currently and draw additional people into the city.”
Asked how he would respond to the comment the City seemed to be gravitating more towards recreation at the expense of water main replacement and core infrastructure Mayor Tolley said he did not see it that way.
“I think we have done a real good job with the infrastructure renewal here. The cast iron is well underway and street and road repairs. How many people have you heard complaining they can’t drive anywhere because the streets are under construction? That’s a good thing it means the City of Moose Jaw is replacing its’ infrastructure,” he said.
“That means the City of Moose Jaw is putting new pipes where old cast iron was. We are only doing a lot of things currently. There are only two seasons in Saskatchewan - Winter and construction. And we are in the middle of construction right now.”
The Mayor said he believed the City had prepared and planned properly cast iron water main replacement and were right now carrying out the project.
“Rather than being negative with all of the construction around town I am rather pleased because that means we are renewing all of our infrastructure.”
Asked, given finite dollars, the City was putting too many dollars into recreation versus core infrastructure renewal, the Mayor said he did not see it that way.
“I don’t think so. I think we have budgeted for things. You heard in a report from the Finance Director (Brian Acker) tonight we have budgeted for things we are spending money according to our budget we are not overspending. We are spending what we can afford to spend and we are improving our community.”
Stepping in to assist with the question city manager said it was all about a balance between spending
“It really about balance. We can’t put everything into roads and streets and we have to find a balance. We can’t as his Worship said have a community that doesn’t have an indoor pool, an outdoor pool or pickleball courts. We have to find a way to do that. Finding a balance ensuring we replaces the roads and streets. We have done a ton of money on that. When we get to Budget next week you will see how much we spent on that over the past five years,” Puffalt said.
“But we have to find that balance. We have to ensure recreation is equally looked after.”
He pointed to the on-line budget survey that people missed recreational opportunities they could not due because of the COVID - 19 pandemic.
“It’s all about finding balance. We can’t put all of our eggs in one basket,” Puffalt said, adding the example of the former Moose Jaw YMCA building that deteriorated to the point that demolition was the only reasonable answer for the structure.
Asked about given the police budget request already means a two percent increase plus additional pressures such as the COVID - 19 pandemic how can the City afford the expenditures the city manager said it was once again all about balance.
“Again it is balance, scheduling, looking for grants as we talked about tonight the Climate Acton Plan, the pool are all talking about getting shovel ready when the opportunity arises we are able to go get the grant and we put money away. Again we are the strongest community in Saskatchewan with reserves and we get that because we are cautious, we are prudent and we are ready when opportunity becomes (available),” Puffalt said.
Things such as the proposed new outdoor pool will be done over four years with the finding being put into place in the event a grant from a higher level of government becomes available the funds will be there and not disrupting immediate financial priorities.
The 2022 Budget deliberations begin today.