05/10/2026
Mayor’s Update – April 2026
April was certainly an interesting month from a weather standpoint. As the saying goes, April is supposed to bring showers followed by flowers — but this year it seemed to bring snow, wind, drifting, and every season in between.
The late-season blizzard created significant challenges for our Town crew, leaving large drifts throughout many of our streets and public areas. Of course, like many spring storms, it arrived over a weekend, making response efforts even more difficult. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the contractors and individuals who assisted the Town with snow clearing operations and drift removal. Your help was greatly appreciated and made a significant difference in getting our streets reopened safely and efficiently.
Despite the weather challenges, April was also a very productive month for Council.
A significant amount of time was dedicated to the 2026 budget process. Council continues to focus on maintaining services while ensuring the Town remains financially stable and positioned for the future. A summary of the 2026 budget has been included as part of this update.
We also held a Heritage Day Care Centre board meeting. I’m pleased to report that the daycare continues to operate very well. The centre is fully staffed, operating at capacity, and currently maintains a waiting list. This is an important service for our community and a positive sign for local families. Plans are underway for the Daycare Annual General Meeting, which will be held later this August.
With warmer weather hopefully arriving for good, the Town crew will now be transitioning into another busy summer season. Parks, playgrounds, green spaces, ball diamonds, and sports grounds will all require ongoing maintenance and preparation as community activities ramp up.
Council also participated in a joint meeting with the RM of Wilton, the Town of Marshall, and the Town of Lashburn. The meeting resulted in several productive and forward-looking discussions regarding potential regional cooperation and shared projects. Topics included infrastructure, emergency planning, regional services, and future opportunities where municipalities may benefit from working together. These discussions are important as municipalities continue to face increasing infrastructure costs and service demands.
Mayor’s Update – 2026 Budget Summary
As Council worked through the 2026 budget, the focus remained on keeping Lashburn financially stable while continuing to address the real costs associated with operating the Town and maintaining infrastructure.
The approved budget is balanced, with revenues and expenses both projected at approximately $2.34 million. Much of the operating budget reflects actual costs from the previous year, with many budget lines adjusted modestly to account for inflation and rising service costs.
Water Utility
There will be no change to water rates in 2026.
The utility remains in a stable position and is currently able to cover operating costs, depreciation, and future capital planning requirements without a rate increase this year. However, Council will continue reviewing the long-term sustainability of the utility, particularly as SaskWater fixed monthly charges and supply costs continue to rise.
Taxation Changes
The budget includes:
An increase to the minimum tax from $675 to $850 across all property classes
A mill rate adjustment from 6.04 to 6.44
The minimum tax increase represents a $175 annual increase per property.
These adjustments are necessary largely due to a decline in property assessment values, which reduced municipal tax revenue by just over $52,000. The proposed tax changes will recover that shortfall while also generating approximately $19,000 in additional revenue to support municipal operations and infrastructure.
For most residents, the overall increase is expected to fall within a range of approximately $100 to $250 annually. It is also important to recognize that this follows a decrease in the municipal levy in 2025, which helps balance the impact when viewed over a two-year period.
Infrastructure & Operations
Transportation and infrastructure remain major priorities within the 2026 budget.
Planned work includes:
Resurfacing sections of 1st Street East
Frost boil repairs
Culvert replacements
Drainage improvements near the Fire Hall
Targeted utility and service line replacements
Ongoing street maintenance, dust control, and snow removal
Council also continues to focus on proactive maintenance and long-term asset management to avoid larger repair costs in the future.
Equipment & System Improvements
The budget includes practical investments in equipment, tools, and operational systems, including:
A new SCADA system upgrade for the water treatment plant
Equipment and maintenance tools
Safety and operational training for staff
The total capital program for 2026 is approximately $90,000 and is focused on maintaining and improving the infrastructure and assets residents rely on every day.
Heritage Day Care Centre
The Heritage Day Care Centre is now reflected more directly within Town operations rather than simply being categorized through grant reporting. This provides a clearer understanding of operating costs, staffing, grant revenue, parent fees, and long-term sustainability planning for the facility.
Recreation & Community Support
The budget also continues support for recreation and community initiatives, including:
Lashburn Day
Recreation Board support
Parks and playground maintenance
Community grants and local initiatives
Looking Ahead
No municipal budget is perfect, and municipalities everywhere continue to face increasing pressure from rising infrastructure costs, insurance, utilities, wages, and equipment expenses.
Council’s goal remains straightforward:
Maintain reliable services
Plan responsibly for future infrastructure needs
Protect long-term financial stability
Avoid pushing today’s costs too far into the future
In simple terms, this is a steady and responsible budget. It focuses on maintaining the services and infrastructure our community depends on while continuing to plan carefully for the future.
As always, Council appreciates the patience, understanding, and support of residents as we work together to keep Lashburn moving forward.
— Jim Krissa
Mayor, Town of Lashburn
