Ranchers cutting ditch grass for hay can help their local RM save some money this summer. (File photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Inflation

Inflation hits RMs ability to provide services

Jun 13, 2022 | 1:27 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Running graders and mowing ditches all take fuel and with the sharp climb in fuel prices, both the Rural Municipalities of Prince Albert and Buckland are facing some challenges.

Reeves of both RMs said their budgets and services are taking a hit.

Eric Schmalz of the RM of Prince Albert said they have noticed the difference.

“Our delivery of services has become a lot more expensive, things like road maintenance, dust control, those kinds of things, we’re seeing a cost increase,” he said.

The main area is in fuel surcharges.

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The RM has one large project on the go and is building and shop and RM office, but that price was set before.

“Fortunately for us, we locked in a lot of our pricing before we started seeing these massive inflationary increases,” said Schmalz.

They have some cushion in their budget and so won’t have to modify it yet in order to keep going. While this allows them to absorb moderate fluctuations, the current inflation is concerning.

“This is becoming problematic and we’re monitoring it very closely and we’re going to try to ensure that we don’t pass on any of this to our ratepayers,” he said.

In the RM of Buckland, some reductions have been made, according to Reeve Don Fyrk.

They have reduced the number of mowings in the ditches from what should be three to one.

That single mowing will be done at the end of July and they are hoping some ranchers take advantage of the tall grass

“If the farmers are short of feed, they can do the ditches, that’s one thing we’re looking at. We’re only going hire one mower operator and transfer one of the grader guys onto the other mower,” he said.

Farmers are allowed to just go hay the ditches if they need the grass and there is no approval process needed.

“We just don’t have the money,” he said.

Buckland does not have any large projects planned right now. They desperately need a new shop, said Fyrk, but cost overruns when building the Buckland Bridge mean they won’t be taking on any large-scale builds for a few years.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com