Yorkton City Council is moving forward with a long-term strategy to address the community’s aging infrastructure, following the approval of a five-year capital plan and the 2026 budget. These plans guide how the city will prioritize and fund essential upgrades to roads, water systems, and drainage over the coming years.
The five-year plan, approved in March 2025, serves as a general guide for potential projects. It was created to satisfy requirements under the Canada Community-Building Fund, a federal grant program that provides Yorkton with roughly $990,000 annually. While this plan highlights the city’s long-term needs, it remains separate from the formal capital budget process, which dictates the specific spending for each year.
For the current year, Yorkton city council approved the 2026 operating and capital budget on January 26, 2026. This budget includes a total tax increase of 3.85 per cent, with a portion specifically set aside to fund capital projects. Of that increase, 2.75 per cent is dedicated to day-to-day operations, while 1.10 per cent is focused on infrastructure.
In total, the 2026 capital budget allocates more than $6 million for various infrastructure improvements. This includes significant funding boosts for roads, with a 13 per cent increase, as well as a 48 per cent rise in support for sidewalks and curbs. Drainage systems will also see a major investment, with funding for that area jumping by 104 per cent.
City officials have identified the aging wastewater treatment plant as a top priority, as the facility is currently operating at capacity. With local growth and industrial developments continuing, the city has already invested $1 million into planning and engineering for the plant’s future upgrades. To support these and other local needs, Mayor Aaron Kienle led a delegation to Ottawa in October 2025 to advocate for a new federal infrastructure funding model to replace the expired Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
The city has successfully used federal funding in the past for various community improvements, including Highway 9 upgrades, street lighting, and the York Road Reconstruction Project. Additionally, the 2026-27 provincial budget has earmarked $1.8 million to complete the pre-design phase for the new Yorkton Hospital.
