Rosetown ends 2025 with $129,000 surplus as spending comes in under budget

By Ian MacKay

Rosetown recorded a surplus of more than $129,000 last year rather than the slightly more than $900 that the 2025 budget showed, largely due to not spending on certain items.

The town transferred more than $2 million out of reserves rather than the $2.5 million budgeted for last year. Officials expect to move more than $1.3 million into them this year while using $578,000 from them, according to the 2026 budget document that councillors passed during their March 2 meeting.

They budgeted $950,000 for planning and development last year but spent nothing on that, the document shows. They designated $600,000 for that purpose this year in developing the east neighbourhood.

Governing the town could cost more than $730,000. That reached $695,000 last year, about $45,000 less than expected. The town saved about $18,000 on administration wages and $10,000 on postage, but insurance cost about $7,600 more than expected.

In protective services, the town budgeted more than $254,000 for the RCMP, anticipating an increase of three per cent for 2026.

The swimming pool cost about $70,000 less than expected to operate, thanks mainly to lower spending on salaries, chemicals and materials than expected. Pool admissions amounted to almost $57,000, about $3,000 more than anticipated.

A profit of about $43,000 occurred at the AGT Centre, with expenses about $81,700 less than expected, thanks partly to savings on power, safety equipment and fuel, while it generated about $13,900 less revenue than expected.

The town spent about $39,500 more than expected for dealing with recyclable material and booked about $1.2 million in amortization as expenses.