City spending on full display

The 2025 draft budget has been presented to council, shedding light on spending in city hall. 

The process of preparing the budget first began with public consultations. A survey was open for nine weeks with four in-person engagement activities leading to 500-plus conversations and 314 completed surveys.

The annual budget, as prepared by city administration, outlines the efforts staff have made to have a balanced budget.

“The city, over the last number of years, has gone department by department asking them to look at their budgets, look at their staffing requirements, their purchasing needs to stretch the dollars as best we can,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

There are some cost drivers the city has no control over.

“Additionally, retroactive pay for the RCMP, is totally out of control of the city through our municipal policing service agreement with the RCMP,” said Aalbers.  

Total revenues in 2025 are projected to be just over $110 million while expenses are projected to be just short of $110 million. 

In terms of expenses, Lloydminster will spend a staggering $43.8 million in just salaries, roughly 40 per cent of total expenses the city will incur. The city employs 460 employees throughout the year with 312 of those being full-time. 

In terms of some department specifics, the fire service leads the way with $5.2 million in total salaries and benefits. The parks department spends $2.7 million on salaries and benefits, followed by aquatic centres at $2.3 million and the Servus Sports Centre at $2.2 million.

The other major expense the city incurs annually is contracted services, projected to cost $27.3 million. 

They will also be paying $4 million in bank charges this upcoming year.

On the revenue side of things, the city will collect just shy of $50 million in municipal taxes next year. The other large portion of their revenue comes from user fees and the sale of goods.

Young appointed Minister of Energy

Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young became Saskatchewan’s new Minister of Energy and Resources in a post-election cabinet shake-up announced by Premier Scott Moe.

“This is a new beginning - a new government with a new mandate from Saskatchewan voters, and today we have a new cabinet,” Moe said on Nov. 7. 

“I know every minister is looking forward to taking on their new responsibilities, addressing the opportunities and challenges that face Saskatchewan.”

Young was the Minister of Advanced Education prior to the provincial election on Oct. 28.

The new 16-member cabinet is two ministers smaller than the previous cabinet.

The government’s longest-serving minister Jim Reiter becomes the new Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance. 

Reiter has been a minister since 2009. He will also serve as Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and Minister of Immigration and Career Training.

Lloydminster’s new elected officials

The City of Lloydminster has officially sworn in mayor and council following the recent election. 

The results were made official Nov. 14 after voters cast their ballots the previous day.

Council chambers were busy on Nov. 18 as friends and family of soon-to-be sworn-in councillors packed city hall.

Judge Stephen Kritzer was there to conduct the ceremony. 

Mayor Gerald Aalbers returns after being acclaimed last month. He will be joined at the council table by three re-elected councillors, Coun. Jason Whiting, Coun. Michael Diachuk and Coun. David Lopez.

Lopez garnered 70 per cent of the total vote in the last election. 

“It’s always overwhelming when you sit there and you look and you got like 2,500 votes and there’s 3,600 people that voted,” said Lopez.

He says the large amount of votes he gathered shows the trust people have in him.

“People trust you, and when they trust you, you have to sit there and go alright, I’ve got to fulfill what I said I was going do to,” he said. 

Whiting says council has a big job ahead of them. 

“Timing wise, after any election, you’re always heading straight into a budget and discussing the budget with some new views and some new opinions, it’s always an exciting time,” he said. 

Diachuk thanked the voters for their support.

“The public gets it right, I was running to get elected, I wasn’t running to be first or sixth, I just didn’t want to be seventh,” said Diachuk. 

“They needed an old guy with white hair, and I fit the bill.”

Joining the four veterans are three new councillors. Coun. Jim Taylor, Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson and Coun. Justin Vance were all sworn in for the first time taking their seats in council chambers.

Paying homage in Lloydminster

The community of Lloydminster came together the morning of Nov. 11 to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Over 400 veterans, dignitaries, cadets and citizens gathered at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School for the service. The service focused heavily on why we continue to remember. 

It featured stories shared of veteran’s long since passed.

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