Prince Albert trims proposed police budget, hikes parking fees in final deliberations

WATCH: Prince Albert city budget deliberations have resulted in changes to parking fees and a much smaller increase to the police service.

Prince Albert’s final scheduled day of general budget deliberations wrapped up Friday, resulting in changes to parking fees and a much smaller increase to the police service budget than the one approved last year.

One of the most debated topics on the final day of city budget deliberations was the proposed police service budget, as councillors continued to push for a minimal impact on tax rates.

Following hours of back-and-forth from the budget committee, the budget was eventually passed about $160,000 short of the recommendation for a final $22.1 million.

Not all members were in support of lowering the recommended budget.

“Reducing the police budget in the same manner as departments with vastly different roles and responsibilities, to me, fails to acknowledge the unique and essential nature of the work,” said Mayor Bill Powalinsky.

This is still an increase of roughly $700,000 from last year’s police service budget, but it is comparatively small compared with the $2-million increase from 2024 to 2025.

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A budget of $1 million was approved for the Sixth Avenue viaduct bridge repair project.

This was initially proposed to be funded entirely through taxation, but the motion was amended to pull $250,000 from the roadways paving and concrete levy.

Other decisions by the committee will lead to changes in downtown parking.

The city says that early in the new year it will introduce a paid parking app for metered parking, but paying by coin will remain an option.

The city says the app will remove the two-hour minimum and also allow drivers to pay a rate for full-day parking.

In January, the parking rate will rise from $1.25 to $1.50 hourly and the municipal impound fee will rise from $50 to $100.