Communities in Transition

2011-2012 BUDGET:  $700,000

As part of the Rural Revenue Sharing program, $700,000 will be provided to the Communities in Transition (CIT) Program in the 2011-2012 fiscal year. 

The intention of the CIT program is to accommodate the needs of Saskatchewan communities that assume financial liabilities related to municipal restructuring.  The program has built in flexibility to meet these needs, as different situations may require unique solutions.  If required, the program may be modified to ensure successful delivery in upcoming fiscal years.  Modifications will be determined following a review of the program at the beginning of each fiscal year. Rural Municipalities may apply for approval of infrastructure-related project(s), feasibility studies and administration costs only once and within 12 months following restructuring.

The CIT Program focuses on the following key areas:

Infrastructure

This portion of the program provides funding assistance to establish more sustainable, cost-effective service provisions in those rural municipalities (RM) that assume financial liabilities related to environmental-based physical infrastructure when a village dissolves into an RM and becomes an unorganized hamlet.  These infrastructure issues are often detrimental to the safety and health of communities and their residents. 

Feasibility Studies and Administrative Costs

The CIT program also provides funding for eligible feasibility and administrative costs associated with municipal restructuring, as previously funded through the Municipal Restructuring Fund that was managed by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and funded by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

Operating Costs

Operating grants to hamlets were shifted to the CIT program commencing in the 2009-10 fiscal year.  Unorganized hamlets created after January 1, 2003 will receive their annual allocation under this program.  Municipal Affairs will continue to make a grant payment for the hamlet based on the operating grant paid to the former urban municipality in the fiscal year before it was dissolved into the RM.  This payment will be made for a maximum of ten years, commencing the fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the municipality dissolved.  RMs who wish to continue receiving grants or who will be eligible to receive these unconditional grants in the future, will be required to provide a brief one page application to Municipal Affairs.  Further information on the application can be obtained by calling Municipal Affairs

Special Initiatives

The Minister of Municipal Affairs may approve Strategic Initiatives, consistent with the Municipal Grants Regulations, in the case that CIT funding remains unspent at the end of a fiscal year. Funding was provided to SARM in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for which will benefit all or several RMs throughout the province.  SARM is responsible for the administration of these funds.  For a list of projects funded in 2009-10 and 2010-11, see Strategic Initiatives below.

For further information, contact:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Grants Administration and Financial Management
410 - 1855 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK S4P 3T2
Program and Policy Advisor: Sheri Gabel
Telephone:  (306) 787-3619
Fax:  (306) 787-3641
E-mail:  muninfo@gov.sk.ca