The provincial budget is set to be released today and it has many in the area holding their breath.

"Hopefully the province of Saskatchewan," explained Mayor Roy Ludwig, "will not be looking at inflicting any more pain on the municipalities. We understand that they are looking at a three-year payment plan to get into the black and we wish them well. But at the same time, we don't feel that the burden should be on the backs of the municipalities because we still have to operate."

He added that he has spoken with Estevan's MLA, Lori Carr and expressed to her that he hopes that they would not hear the bad news that they heard last year which he called 'horrific'.

"We're hoping that after last year, which the damage to us was around $1 million that hopefully the major cuts are done and maybe they can look at, at the very least, no further damage to our bottom-line."

Saskatchewan's Finance Minister Donna Harpauer is expected to unveil the 2018 budget around 2:15 PM. 

Stay tuned to Discover Estevan as we continue to update this story once the budget has been released.