MOOSOMIN — The provincial budget includes a record $362 million in municipal revenue sharing—an increase of $22 million, or 6.3 per cent, from 2024-25, with municipalities saying the increase will make a big difference for them in the year ahead.
The money is dispersed to Saskatchewan municipalities as a way to share in the economic success of the province.
Moosomin-Montmarte MLA Kevin Weedmark stressed the importance of the municipal revenue sharing program —something unique to Saskatchewan.
“That revenue sharing program is not something that every province has, it’s something that no other province has,” he said. “In other provinces, municipal groups often are lobbying their governments for something like what we have in Saskatchewan, where we can provide municipalities with a strong, stable, predictable source of funding that in many provinces they simply don’t have.”
Since inception in 2007-08, the program has delivered over $4.6 billion in provincial funding.
“This model that they’re using is fantastic,” said Moosomin Mayor Murray Gray. “How you can count on it every year, and going forward, you know you’re going to get it.”
This year, Moosomin is set to receive $819,751 as its share of the municipal revenue sharing funding, an increase from last year of $50,089. In 2024 Moosomin received $769,662. In 2023 the town received $672,231. In 2022 the town received $567,166. And in 2021 the town received $617,418.
In total Moosomin has received an additional $202,333 in municipal revenue sharing over the last four years.
“The bump up partly is due to inflation. Because the cost of goods go up, the PST is then increased because of a larger cost of that item,” Gray explained. “Even in these unsure economic times, things still seem to be rolling along pretty good in Saskatchewan and in our area. It is good to be diverse and have lots of different revenue streams in your communities and in order to move forward.”
Money received from the municipal revenue sharing can be used however the recipient communities choose, expanding what those centres can deliver to their residents.
“It’s not really earmarked for one particular project,” Gray said of the municipal revenue sharing funds. “We probably have three or four projects that are larger than that sum of money that we need to do in the next couple of years for sure. It just helps when you’re trying to find budget in order to do some of those big projects. It just helps, in order to have a little bit of extra revenue that you maybe weren’t expecting.”
Looking at some of the projects around town, Gray listed the creation of a transfer station at the landfill, decommissioning the dump, putting a water line under the tracks, and work at the lagoon as examples of where municipal revenue sharing funding could be spread around.
In Esterhazy, Mayor Randy Bot is pleased with their increase as well with a total of $708,913 this year—an increase of $43,300 from the year previous. Esterhazy has seen an increase of $145,563 in revenue sharing over the last four years. In 2024 Esterhazy received $665,613. In 2023 the town received $568,584. In 2202 the town received $500,804. And in 2021 the town received $563,350.
“I am very excited about this increase in municipal revenue sharing, as it provides valuable support for our community,” he said. “Right now, we are in the midst of creating a budget that not only focuses on the year ahead but also considers the long-term needs of Esterhazy. Our approach will be responsible and strategic, ensuring that this funding is used effectively to support ongoing success.”
Esterhazy also has a long list of projects where that extra money will come in handy, and the injection is especially timely when municipalities are looking at their budgets.
“I am grateful for this additional investment, and we see it as a positive step for municipalities across Saskatchewan,” Bot said. “We are only one budget meeting in, so it’s still very early to have any dollars earmarked. We are currently reviewing everything and working to establish a clear vision for this council.”
Allocations are as follows for other local communities: Redvers - $299,165, Maryfield - $93,702, Rocanville - $264,086, Spy Hill - $53,022, Tantallon - $26,787, Stockholm - $99,008, Wapella - $97,240, Wawota - $165,629, Yarbo - $16,175, Kipling - $319,211, Kennedy - $31,503, Fleming - $22,660, and Whitewood - $280,299.
Rural Municipalities also receive the funding dollars. The allocations are as follows for local RMs: RM of Moosomin - $279,921, RM of Martin - $260,495, RM of Fertile Belt - $396,552, RM of Rocanville - $223,620, RM of Wawken - $297,891, RM of Walpole - $377,110, RM of Spy Hill - $183,451, RM of Maryfield - $258,120, RM of Hazelwood - $332,556, RM of Kingsley - $333,108, RM of Antler - $330,087, RM of Silverwood - $312,362, RM of Willowdale - $366,499.
On top of the municipal revenue sharing money, the 2025/26 budget includes $172 million worth of additional municipal investment. The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program will see $76.5 in investments, $29 million comes in the form of policing grants, roads will see $18.4 million in the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth, and highways gain $8.6 million under the Urban Connector Program.
