Holiday Train Returns To Estevan
December 19, 2012
WEDNESDAY
The CP Rail Holiday Train was in Estevan Monday night as part of its cross country tour. The event is used to raise money and food items for Estevan Food Bank. CP Rail made a $2,000 donation to the Salvation Army during the event. For more photos please see A3.
www.estevanmercury.ca
Bruins Fall To Terriers
B1
Issue 33
Rental picture worsens The latest report on vacancy rates and the rental prices in Estevan paints a very grim picture for anyone looking to Ànd a place to rent in the city. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released its year-end report last week and it showed that not only has Estevan’s vacancy rate dropped again, the cost of rent has taken another substantial jump. Based on numbers collected in October, the report says Estevan’s rate is now 0.6 per cent, the lowest in the province. Lloydminster was the only other Saskatchewan community below one per cent, checking in at .9 per cent. Conversely, the cost of rent has climbed to an aver-
age of $1,030, the highest average in the province by over $100. The lowered vacancy rate was not welcome news to the City of Estevan who has been focusing much of their efforts on improving the situation. “We were hoping it would move the other way,� said Mayor Roy Ludwig. “Now that it is continuing to go down, we just have to be more earnest in our discussions with the housing minister in getting something in place.� Ludwig added the situation is especially dire for lower income families with rents rising. He noted the province had people in the city last week and the two sides will be speaking weekly until something is
Mayor Roy Ludwig in place. “We are looking at something that could be put up quickly. We have got some lots on City land; we were looking at condominiums or apartment-type that could be put up quickly. “It just brings to the forefront the fact that we have to have these discussions with the ministry and
then get out a request for proposals as quickly as we can with the intention of getting something in the ground early in 2013.� It’s obvious some level of action is needed as the picture in Estevan seems to get bleaker with each new report. The recent release says there are no bachelor suites or three bedroom properties available in the city. The rate for two bedroom properties is .4 per cent while the rate for one-bedroom rentals is 1.2 per cent. Prince Albert and Swift Current have the province’s highest vacancy rates with both hovering around the six per cent mark. Regina is the only other centre below two per cent.
The most expensive rental accommodations in Estevan are two bedroom suites, which are going for an average of $1,111. Three bedroom suites have an average of $1,101; one bedroom suites are averaging $944 and bachelor suites have an average of $657. Saskatoon is second in the province for average rent at $918 while Regina is third at $896. The report says “elevated energy exploration� has helped keep the job market in the area steady which has fuelled the continued rental demand. Ludwig said the City recently agreed to fund a housing study which will take a look at the situation and tell them where their money would be best spent.
Council cuts deficit in half WEATHER & INDEX Thursday
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Faced with a deÀcit of over $800,000, city council took out the big knives and began cutting last week. Council held two days of budget deliberations with the focus on the capital portion of the budget last Wednesday. On Thursday they began combing through the operations side and were expected to continue that process on Tuesday. Entering the meetings the City had present-
ed a financial summary, which projected a deficit of $806,000 once capital expenditures were factored in. Noting that a deÀcit of that size would require a tax increase of two mills to cover, Mayor Roy Ludwig said council would be making some major cuts. Ludwig added the focus of 2013 would be catching up on projects that have been delayed over the past couple of years. As well, any items or work that
wasn’t absolutely critical would be deferred for at least one year. That focus seemed to work as council cut the deĂ€cit by almost half, lowering it to $440,000. Ludwig said he is happy with their start, but feels there is more that can be done, adding that once the year-end totals are presented in March they will go through the operations portion again and see what else can be trimmed. “We still have a long
ways to go,â€? he said. “(In March) we’ll get the Ă€nal numbers from 2012 and when we get the Ă€nal numbers we’ll be able to project that forward and have a realistic look of where we are at. And from there we’ll do some looking of where we can bring the budget more in line. “We were very successful (Wednesday night). We took off close to $400,000 and we are halfway there and I would like to see on
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