shaunavon courthouse

The Town of Shaunavon has approved their budget for this year.

The budget calls for total tax levy revenue of about $1.58 million, as well as a drop in the mill rate from 18 to 10 mills.

"With our taxable assessment doubling, we would have to decrease our mill rate so that we don't double our taxes that we charge our people," said Shaunavon Town Administrator Jay Meyer. "What we will be expecting is our levy to be increased by about $35,000, meaning that we will be setting aside an extra $35,000 for the 2013 budget."

Meyer says there will be a 3% tax increase with some property owners seeing about a $35 increase in their taxes.

The town is also planning on replacing some aging infrastructure with some paving and repair work being done on Shaunavon streets and sidewalks.

"We're looking at finishing off the paving for Bench View subdivision, as well as the 5th Avenue project, and in the last two years, we've done over half a million dollars in paving, street repairs, sidewalks and so on," Meyer said. "We've also budgeted over $200,000 above the two major projects to do that type of work around the community."

Meyer adds they will also continue work on the $400,000 lift station project, put some more dollars to update the SARCAN building, and put some money into their reserves.