On Monday, the provincial government announced more than $275 million in 2021-2022 as part of the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program. This is the second-highest overall amount ever.
“This unconditional provincial funding for municipalities provides local leaders the flexibility and adaptability to invest in their community’s current key priorities,” said Moe said in a government release. “This stable and predictable source of revenue is more important than ever for communities as they meet the challenges of COVID-19.”
Funding from the program is based on three quarters of one point of the provincial sales tax revenue collected from two years prior. Overall funding under the program for 2021-22 represents an approximately 117 per cent increase from the 2007-08 provincial fiscal year.
$1.5 million will be invested in the Targeted Sector Support Initiative which supports municipal projects that advance priority areas, such as good governance, regional planning, and inter-community collaboration. The initiative is co-managed by the provincial government and municipal partners.
More details will be provided when the provincial budget is released in April.
Province providing $3 million boost to urban highways partnerships
An additional $3 million in capital funding will be made available for improvements to highways in Saskatchewan’s smaller cities.
“We are committed to making the investments necessary to ensure a strong economic recovery for our province,” said Premier Moe. “This funding boost will create jobs, enhance safety and support transportation infrastructure in our municipalities.”
The additional funding will boost capital dollars in the Urban Highway Connector Program (UHCP) to $10 million over two years. UHCP was created in 2008 to provide stable funding and service levels on highways within city limits that connect to the provincial networks. The program provides financial assistance to urban municipalities for the maintenance, operation and rehabilitation of these roadways.
Through a detailed review of UHCP towns and cities requested changes to the program. One of the most significant changes is the Ministry of Highways assuming 100 per cent of the maintenance and rehabilitation costs for urban connectors in Saskatchewan towns as of April 1, 2021, reducing the number of municipalities competing for UHCP dollars each year. Changes are also being made to how funding is allocated to Regina and Saskatoon.
