WEYBURN - The audited financial statements for 2020 show that the City of Weyburn has come out of the year in good financial shape, in spite of COVID impacting programs and operations for three-quarters of the year.
In the highlights, presented by Laura Missal, director of finance, revenues exceeded what was budgeted for 2020, by $2.23 million, in part due to grants from the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) and the Safe Restart program, both from the provincial government.
Expenses were also lower than budgeted, coming in at $2.06 million lower than was expected.
This was mainly due to the impact of COVID, with cancelled programming, no summer staff wages, and a decrease in maintenance costs as facilities remained closed for much of the year.
Cash and investments increased by $8.74 million, of which $5.6 million was funding received for the Spark Centre that had not been used by the end of 2020, and was forwarded to 2021.
Taxes receivable decreased by $420,000, as Missal noted that taxpayers were for the most part able to pay their property taxes in spite of the impact of COVID.
Capital assets for the City increased by just under $14 million, due to the construction of the Credit Union Spark Centre, and the Fleet Storage building.
The City accrued $5.91 million, as of Dec. 31, 2020, for the hospital levy of the $6 million committed towards the new hospital facility.
Missal said the audited financial statements and public accounts will be available for the public to view on the City’s website this week.
• In other council business, three projects requiring tenders were approved by council, including replacement of the traffic signal at the intersection of Second Street and Souris Avenue downtown; the replacement of the HVAC system for the Weyburn police station; and installation of a UV disinfection system for the Weyburn Leisure Centre.
For the new traffic lights, the project was budgeted for $120,000, but the winning tender was far below that, while a second tender was far above that limit. Industrial Electric of Weyburn was awarded the tender for $42,747.
The other bid on this project was $328,406 by Can Traffic Services Ltd.
The HVAC system at the police station is in “critical need” of replacement before the winter, said Andrew Crowe, director of leisure services, noting that parts are extremely hard to find for the current system. The City budgeted $50,000, and the tender was awarded to Prairie Controls Ltd., for $54,000 plus taxes.
The goal is to have the new system installed before winter arrives, but Crowe pointed out this is subject to the supply of materials, which is the same issue that has delayed the opening of the Spark Centre to mid-October.
The UV disinfection system project had a budget of $40,000, and the project had one bidder, Paradise Pools (Commercial) Inc., who bid $46,786.
Crowe said this bid was higher but was still “in the ballpark” of what was expected as a cost, and this project will also be subject to the supply of materials by the manufacturer.
• The Walk of Fame committee has set the date of Saturday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m., for the induction of two new names to the walk, in front of City Hall.
This year the City is inducting PGA golfer Graham DeLaet, and senior swimmer Kathryn Groshong.
