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The total amount being redirected from cities to the province drops by $3 million because of the decision, meaning the province is still taking $33 million from 109 different cities that have already earmarked how to spend their portion of that money that they are now not receiving.

Meetings are being scheduled for next week to further discuss the issue.

Government Relations Minister Donna Harpauer said the grants-in-lieu program was inequitable and, following a meeting earlier this week with representatives from cities, recognized redirecting the money was having an impact on communities.

“Was it an oversight? I would say it was,” she said.

If softening the blow to a handful of those affected was an attempt to appease the province’s cities, it appears to have failed.

Yorkton was set to lose 58 per cent of its revenue sharing. Now, it’s set to lose 30 per cent.

Bob Maloney, who is the city’s mayor and is representing smaller-city mayors in talks, says the province is still downloading a significant amount of its budgetary issues on municipalities.

“Would I be happy about that? Of course not,” he said, adding Yorkton is still faced with cutting services or raising taxes.

He said representatives from the cities are planning to come to the province with a plan the next time the parties meet.

“We will have a proposal to put in front of the government and I’m hopeful that they will consider it,” he said, although no details were provided on what the proposal could look like.