It has recently been brought to my attention that Rural Municipality of Mount Hope #279’s Reeve and council members are in the planning stages and perhaps in site preparations to move the R.M. shop and eventually, the office from it’s current location in the Village of Semans to the town of Raymore.
This move was proposed previously and was voted down by the majority of ratepayers in R.M. #279. This geographical, financial and responsible decision was carried. I ask why this decision has not continued to be respected?, and what has changed to make it beneficial to the ratepayers to force this move? And most importantly …. Do we get a say?
I (as a ratepayer in #279), continue to have concerns about this covert action, the motivation behind it and the expense of a move.
It is my understanding that the R.M. #279 Mount Hope is the second largest R.M. in the province with one of the highest mill rates. The varying mil rates increase or decrease approximately every 4 years depending on assessment values from S.A.M.A.
In
2003 R.M. #279 was operating with a mill rate of 11 mills (with a 1.29 rate factor ratio). 8 employees
2007 R.M. #279 continued 11 mill rate (1.29 factor)
2009 R.M. #279 expanded by amalgamating with Kutawa
2012 R.M. #279 had a mill rate of 20 mills (1.29 factor)
2021 R.M. #279 mill rate is 7.7 (1.5 mill rate factor)
21 employees
*This year, there was an increased tax relief grant available for RM’s through the government of Saskatchewan. The increase to 8% will help with the budget struggles may help assist in keeping the budgets and taxes consistent and sustainable. The assessments have increased too, which will also enhance budgets. https://sarm.ca/about/whats-new/increased-revenue-sharing-will-provide-relief-for municipalities We need relief at every level of government.
As I dug deeper into the necessity of a new shop I became increasingly convinced a move would not make any sense financially, nor would it enhance the tax burden, infrastructure/ maintenance or the services that would benefit the whole.
The current Mount Hope shop operates efficiently, is centrally located in the RM, has sewer, water, gas, electricity, land donated for a new shop along with machine storage, and a large shop access available for use in emergencies or inclement weather. The office was recently updated too.
The new shop site would need:
1) buying a site and preparing it
2) A new building
3) New sewer and new water lines
4) New gas lines
If the shop is moved, the heavy machines will have to cross a busy highway (#6) daily which is dangerous. The estimated cost will be huge! Estimated at approximately $1.5-$2,000,000.00 of new debt (over rides are expected and no tenders have been submitted as yet) will be our reality.
If the RM owned the equipment as opposed to our current manner of leasing it, we may need machine storage but it is not necessary with leased equipment as the repairs/maintenance are already taken care of. The erosion of our infrastructure, increasing number of closed roads, and any benefits in moving the R.M. Shop seem to elude me and I think our money can be better spent. I hope the Reeve and Council can enlighten us on why this move is so necessary at this time.
We are all trying to find our way out of a 1.5 year ‘world wide pandemic,’ an imposed federal carbon tax, that has already affected our economy…. and now? … straight into a drought! Farmers are really struggling and expenses have grown exponentially. Do we need more debt at this time?
The cost of moving seems not only unnecessary but fiscally unwise at this time. I question the motive, expense and Council direction in this matter once again.
If you are a concerned ratepayer in Mount Hope I encourage you to speak to your councillor, ask questions, get answers, run for the council, be involved in the decision-making process.
You should have a voice! You should speak!
A Concerned Ratepayer in RM Mount Hope, Donna Hawes
- Idea’s and opinions expressed here are those of the author
