Premier Scott Moe included a pre-budget nugget during his Thursday afternoon address at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Convention in Regina.

The 2024-25 Municipal Revenue Sharing Program will be $340.2 million, up 14 percent from last year. That means an additional $42.3 million for urban and rural municipalities. Funding for the Municipal Revenue Sharing program is based on three-quarters of one point of the provincial sales tax revenue collected from two years prior.

“Revenue sharing for municipalities this year will be the highest amount that has ever been, and it will also be the largest increase that we have ever seen in Saskatchewan,” Moe stated.

The formula is based on three quarters of one point of the Provincial Sales Tax Revenue collected two years ago.

“We put in place that formula, that provided that reliable and predictable funding, that means it increases as our economy grows. Your funding grows, the economy grows, that’s what the formula does.”

Moe also announced that the Government of Saskatchewan is moving forward with construction of the first 90,000 acres of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project. The project is expected to cost $1.15 billion in total, which will be shared between the provincial government and producers who wish to participate in the project. The engineering, design and engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous rights holders is anticipated to be done over the next year to 14 months, with major construction of the 90,000 acres expected to take place mainly in 2025.

On the topic of mental health and addiction, Moe adds that his government will not make it easier to use illicit drugs by providing needles. He says money will be spent on addiction recovery and mental health services instead.

“We need to bring them in and get them in front of either the recovery bed that they may need and the services that come with that or the mental health supports that they may need. You’re seeing some of that access coming in the urgent care centre that going to be up and running in Regina. There’s going to be another one coming here in Saskatoon, where there’s going to be a dedicated access point for those that may be having a mental health crisis.”

In advance of next Wednesday’s provincial budget, Moe said there will be additional money for health care, education and the RCMP.