The City of Weyburn will save $85,000 on its share of the cost of the 2004 Saskatchewan Summer Games held here this summer.

A verbal report from Games chair Ray Hamm on Monday said the total cost to the city will be $115,000, after all donations are collected next year and all bills paid. He said about $46,000 of the city's cost is made up of in-kind donations.

Weyburn city council originally approved the expenditure of $200,000 toward the costs of the Games.

"We are pleased that we were able to limit the city's exposure to as little as was the case. We were only able to do this because of the generosity of our many sponsors," he said at a press conference in city hall.

Hamm said the city received "excellent" value for its money and the Games were a success.

"First there is, of course, the legacy of the capital improvements, including a $600,000 all-weather track that will serve the community for many, many years; a new irrigated soccer pitch; a new mountain biking track; tens of thousands of dollars worth of improvements to the tennis courts; the swimming pool; the ball diamonds and to Jubilee Park," he said. Some of these improvements included a new surface on the tennis courts, irrigation and new shale for the ball diamonds, new decking and starting blocks at the pool, and a paved path to Tom Laing Park.

The organizing committee estimates the Games brought about $3 million into the community from visitors, said Hamm.

"It is anticipated the capital improvements to our facilities will attract visitors and therefore more dollars to Weyburn for years to come," he said.

"Thirdly, the public relations success of the Games for Weyburn and district is priceless," said Hamm. "Because of the community involvement of the citizens of Weyburn and area, visitors to the Games speak highly of our community."

Hamm said members of the organizing committee discovered about half-way through its fund-raising that other municipalities which host the Games pay for the cost of facility upgrading from their municipal budgets.

Yorkton paid the full cost of the $600,000 new track, said Hamm.

The Weyburn organizing committee appears to be the only one to have agreed to fund capital improvements from its budget, he said.

A framed list of donors is on display at city hall, with another one to follow at the Leisure Centre.