SARM looks to province for more money to repair rural roads

The president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is calling for the provincial government to reinstate$25.5 million in funding for the province's crumbing rural roads.

Ray Orb believes those roadsare imperative to somethe province's economy, especially for the oil, gas, lumber and agriculture industries.

If successful, SARM's funding would be brought back to where it was two years ago in 2014.

"That's a bigconcerntoSARM, and a big concern to rate payers. We think the province will reallyreinstate that funding," he said.

• Broken roads ahead: CAA Sask. launches annual worst roads contest

Orb notedthat many gravel roads"aren't as bad this year as they normally are,because we had a pretty mild winter, with the exception of the areas where therewas some flooding."

Orb emphasized the importance the agriculture sector, too: "[It's]a big component of our exports in the province, especiallybecause of the downturn in some of the other industries."

If they don't get the full $25.5 million reinstated, Orb said it's likely that rural municipalitieswill have to put off some repair projects, borrow money or reallocate money to complete urgent projects.