The City of Yorkton has been receiving annual funding from the Gas Tax Fund since the 2006 fiscal year.
This funding has been used on projects such as the Highway #9 Improvements, Street Light Improvements, Roadway reconstruction and Storm Water Management Projects, including the Drainage Ponds, explained material circulated at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
The City receives approximately $950,000 annually from this Federal grant, which goes toward the Capital Budget, with the City also receiving a one-time doubling of this amount in 2019, explained Ashley Stradeski, Director of Finance, with the City.
Under the Municipal Gas Tax Fund Agreement (MGTFA), that has been signed and approved by the City of Yorkton, the City is required to provide the Province with a five-year Capital Plan on an annual basis. This five-year Capital Plan is due annually on March 31.
This is only a general plan to meet the requirements of the MGTFA and a more realistic ranking of priorities is planned at a strategic planning session in May, 2020, said Stradeski, adding establishing facility priorities and realistic asset management plans will take some time to refine. Administration will continue to revise the five-year Capital Plan on an annual basis as priorities and costs are determined, and present it to Council for approval thereafter.
Also under the MGTFA, The City must have approved projects for which the Gas Tax Funds are to be applied. For 2020, there is a new application intake process for which the City is required to submit projects as approved by Council.
As discussed in previous Council reports and during the budget process, it is the City’s intent to utilize these funds for major infrastructure projects that are already being undertaken in the current year, namely the reconstruction of parts of Darlington East, parts of Mayhew, and the intersection of these two roads, said Stradeski.
Council unanimously approved the City Five-Year Capital Plan – March 2020, and the submission of the Gas Tax Fund Application.
