Yukon municipalities are likely hoping the territorial government today isn’t pulling an early April Fool’s prank on them.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the government announced the territory’s eight municipalities are expected to receive a 10.3-per-cent increase in Comprehensive Municipal Grant funding, for a total of $24.5 million in 2024-25.

The funding will be transferred to municipalities on Apr. 1, 2024.

In 2024, Whitehorse is set to receive $9,804,273.

That compares to $8,529,538 this year, $7,970,927 in 2022 and an essentially similar amount in 2021.

For Dawson City, the figures are: 2024 – $2,922,102; 2023 – $2,705,851; 2022 – $2,600,592; and 2021 – $2,562,359.

“The Comprehensive Municipal Grant helps fund community programs and services, reflecting the Government of Yukon’s commitment to supporting local governance and sustainable communities,” the government said in a statement.

It added, “The Comprehensive Municipal Grant is how the Government of Yukon directly funds municipal governments.

“This core funding supplements municipal resources and pays for vital municipal services, like the provision of fresh drinking water, the collection of solid waste and recycling, recreation programming and other services as required under the Municipal Act and other legislation.

“There are no conditions on the funding, which helps municipal governments balance budgets and reduce the burden on local taxpayers.”

Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn said the grant “allows communities to fund local priorities. It is the cornerstone of our financial support for healthy, resilient and sustainable communities, and we are working with the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) to ensure it remains so for years to come.”

The Star reached out to AYC president Ted Laking for comment on Tuesday, as well as Mayor Laura Cabott.

Laking – a city councillor – was occupied with other business, and no contact could be made with Cabott.

The government established the Comprehensive Municipal Grant in 1991 as its unconditional block funding to municipalities. 

Here are the grant levels for the territory’s other municipalities:

Carmacks

2024 $1,634,866
2023 $1,526,201
2022 $1,465,989
2021 $1,430,890

Faro

2024 $1,998,657
2023 $1,849,026
2022 $1,782,509
2021 $1,739,553

Haines Junction

2024 $2,209,128
2023 $2,068,070
2022 $1,958,907
2021 $1,883,852

Mayo

2024 $1,811,701
2023 $1,704,476
2021 $1,595,242

Teslin

2024 $1,562,057
2023 $1,454,777
2022 $1,432,546
2021 $1,401,553

Watson Lake

2024 $2,613,123
2023 $2,403,067
2022 $2,284,493
2021 $2,225,791