Budget deliberations have wrapped up at City Hall, leaving Saskatoon residents with a property tax increase of 6.04 per cent in 2024, and 5.64 per cent in 2025.
In the spring, a budget shortfall of $75.6 million was revealed, resulting in a proposed property tax increase of 18.56 per cent in 2024 and 6.95 per cent in 2025. Now, after many cuts and $39.7 million in reductions, the average resident’s property taxes will increase by roughly $10 monthly both in 2024 and in 2025.
Mayor Charlie Clark says these budget deliberations were especially difficult due to “inflation, ongoing pandemic impacts, record snowstorms, uncontrollable payroll expenses, and the ongoing impacts of growth.”
Councilors Dubois, Davies, Donauer, and Hill opposed the budget, but it carried with a vote of 7-4.
Saskatoon citizens might also notice several fee increases in 2024 and 2025. According to the budget, fees are going up at arenas, golf courses, leisure centres, pools, the Gordon Howe Campground, the Nutrien Playland and the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo. These include the cost for an adult to play 18 holes at Holiday Park being $1.70 more next year, 85 cents more at Silverwood and $1.55 more at Wildwood. A 30-minute indoor swimming lesson at City pools will go up by $2 next year, as well. General admission at the Nutrien Playland at Kinsmen Park will go up by 10 cents, and adult outdoor pool admission and indoor leisure centre admission will increase by 15 cents. Prime Time ice rental fees will increase by $20 hourly, will increase by 50 cents for both adults and youth, and the fee for an adult to get into the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo will also increase by 40 cents.
Also in the increase department, the City implemented a rate increase for water, wastewater, and infrastructure levy of 4.6 per cent for 2024, and 5.4 per cent in 2025. Theis means the average homeowner will be paying $5.32 more per month in 2024 and $7.14 more per month in 2025.
In closing comments from councilors in the final moments of deliberations, points on both sides were heard on whether or not the council is divided.
“It’s been said by many that this is a divided council, and I believe that has never been more evident than during these budget deliberations. There was evidence that the division on council unto what their definition of tough choices mean, and to what their definition of core services are,” said Councilor Darren Hill.
When it was her time to share comments, Councilor Bev Dubois expressed quite the opposite feeling.
“We get along, and we do respect each other, and I really appreciate that. We can have a six-to-five vote, we go in there, we have a coffee, and we all get along, and that does not happen in all levels of government.”
In reaction to this newly approved budget, the NSBA Saskatoon’s Business Association had mixed feelings.
Although the NSBA commends both Council and Administration for their efforts in reducing the property tax, it also suggested that Council’s approach limited their ability to make substantial cuts. In a news release, the NSBA writes that it had suggested various options to gather savings before deliberations had begun, however they were all discarded. It also noted that a large portion of these savings came from deferrals.
