Moosomin town council passed the 2026 budget on Wednesday with no change to the mill rate, but an increase to the minimum tax from $750 a year to $1,000 a year—an increase of $250 a year, or just over 68 cents a day. The increase means that more properties are paying the minimum tax. When the minimum tax was $750 it affected 215 properties. With the increase to $1,000, it will affect 357 properties. There is no change to the mill rate in 2026. The mill rate will remain at 13.5 mills. Mill rate factors will remain at 0.6 for agricultural land, 0.785 for residential land, and at 1.8 for commercial land. Moosomin reduced the total tax levy for the community last year, and the only increase this year will be for those paying the minum tax. The town will collect $3,754,632 in taxation in 2026, a slight increase from 2025, when the town collected $3,666,197 which was a significant decrease from 2024 when the town took in $4,136,788.
Budget breakdown
Following is a breakdown of some of the key aspects of the budget:
Previous mill rates
• In 2015 the mill rate was increased from 12.5 mills to 14.5 mills (which was a 16% increase), and began applying a $250.00 Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements
• In 2016 the mill rate increased to 15.5 mills, and the Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements increased from $250.00 to $400.00.
• In 2017 due to assessment revaluation, the mill rate was reduced from 15.5 mills to 11.5 mills, and the Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements was increased from $400.00 to $500.00.
• In 2018 the Mill Rate of 11.5 stayed same, and Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements remained at $500.00
• In 2019 the Mill Rate increased from 11.5 mills to 12.5 mills, and Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements increased to $750.00
• In 2020 the Mill Rate was reduced from 12.5 mills to 12.0 mills due to downturn in economy due to COVID-19
• In 2021 due to assessment revaluation the mill rate was reduced from 12.0 mills to 11.5 mills, and Minimum Tax on Residential Improvements remained at $750.00
• In 2022 the Mill Rate was increased from 11.5 mills to 12.5 mills
• In 2023 the Mill Rate remained at 12.5 mills
• In 2024 the Mill Rate increased from 12.5 mills to 13.5 mills
• In 2025 the Mill Rate remained at 13.5 mills
• In 2026 the Mill Rate remains at 13.5 mills
Tax discounts
Tax discounts for payment of current municipal taxes are offered as follows:
• 5% discount will remain for payment of current municipal taxes on or before September 30, 2026
• Per Provincial Government, the 5% discount offered for payment of property taxes does not apply to the school portion of taxes
• No further discounts after September 30, 2026
Provincial revenue sharing
Provincial Revenue Sharing will see an increase of $73,239 from $819,7510 in 2025 to $892,990 in 2026.
Airport project
The Town of Moosomin has partnered with the RM of Moosomin No. 121 and other municipalities on the new 5,300-foot paved airport runway in the RM of Moosomin. The Town has already made a $100,000 contribution in October 2019, then another $150,000 contribution in October 2023, and will make the five annual payments from 2024-2028 in amount of $135,990 each year, to bring the total contribution to $929,950.
Transportation and equipment
In the transportation expenses category, the Town will continue with the slurry seal/pavement crack filling program, and has budgeted $50,000 for slurry seal, and $25,000 for crack filling. The Town also plans on spending another $95,000 for sidewalk upgrades. The Town has also budgeted $160,000 for hot-mix asphalt spot repairs, as well as $460,000 for recapping at various locations.
In regards to equipment, the Town traded in the 2011 John Deere 31 0SJ Backhoe and the 2018 John Deere 700K Crawler Dozer, and purchased a 2026 Caterpillar 420XE Backhoe for $70,300 plus taxes. The Town also purchased a 2026 John Deere 72” rear discharge mower for $22,960 plus taxes, and a 2026 John Deere Commercial cut front mower with rear discharge deck for $44,600 plus taxes.
Protective services
Under the Protective Services category, the Town will be invoiced an estimated $278,500 for the RCMP, and $13,500 for Commissionaire’s to provide Bylaw Enforcement Services.
Waste management and recycling
In the Environmental category, the Town has chosen to use the “Community Led” program for recycling and as such, effective June 1, 2026, the Garbage/Recycling fee on the quarterly utility bills per residence will be reduced from $27 (garbage) + $30 (recycling) = $57 to only $27 (garbage). However, note that the July 31, 2026, utility bill will still have one month charge of recycling on the billing as this quarterly billing is for the period May 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, then going forward, the entire $30 quarterly charge will be completely removed.
The removal of this recycling fee will reduce the overall utility billing by $120/annum.
Effective Dec. 1, 2025, garbage is now being placed in transfer station bins and hauled to the landfill at Whitewood. The Town also continues to work with Clifton Engineering to finalize design for a permanent landfill transfer with ramps to assist in placement of garbage in the transfer station bins. Clifton Engineering is also contracted to provide annual Groundwater Sampling and Reporting, for a cost of $47,800 plus taxes.
Economic Development
As of April 1, 2025, the Town of Rocanville and RM of Rocanville joined the Economic Development Committee, and this will now result in a cost sharing between all parties at: 25% Town of Moosomin, 25% RM of Moosomin, 25% CBA, 12.5% Town of Rocanville, and 12.5% RM of Rocanville.
Recreation
In the Recreation Department, the Town will be working on the following projects:
Bradley Park Upgrades for 2026 include:
a) Equipment shed at Bradley Park
b) Legacy Field Upgrades (Bantam Baseball with addition of two soccer fields. This is a community project)
c) New furnishings at West Point Dog Park (community project)
d) Complete paving project on main parking lot
e) Addition of night lighting on the outdoor pickle ball courts (community project)
Conexus Convention Centre Upgrades for 2026 include:
a) Re-do flooring at the Conexus Convention Centre
Other Upgrades for 2026:
a) Visitors/Tourist Booth by Town of Moosomin sign on Highway 1.
Utilities
In the utilities portion of the budget, the Public Works Department have the following major projects to complete:
a) Replace water main on Henry Street, just east of Windover Avenue.
b) Install new water main from North Cemetery along the North Service Road to Mazer’s Equipmen
Other multi-year utility projects being worked on:
a) The $13.7 million Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project is almost fully completed and is expected to be finished on budget or slightly below. The Town took out a $3.5 million loan for this project, and this is the third year of 15 years of scheduled payments, with an annual payment of $371,278.81 due on October 15 of each year
b) The Town is budgeting for the work of removing sludge in the lagoon for an estimated cost of $250,000. The last time this was done was in 2020.
c) MPE Engineering to complete the project to review elevations and determine how to alleviate storm water drainage problems on the west side of Cook Road.
By Ashley Bochek Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jun 01, 2026 at 16:15
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