Saskatoon city council is deliberating next year’s budget this week.

Councillors began meeting at city hall’s council chambers early Wednesday afternoon, hashing out the numbers and finalizing the 2017 property tax increase — which sat at a proposed 3.85 per cent heading into deliberations but was cut down to 3.81 per cent by the end of day one.

A homeowner whose property is valued at the market average $325,000 will pay $64.83 more per year in 2017, if the preliminary budget is passed with the tax increase at 3.81 per cent.

Deliberations are scheduled to last until Friday.

Police budget passed unchanged

Saskatoon’s police service will see a $3.3-million increase to its budget next year.

City council passed the police’s proposed budget unchanged on day one of budget deliberations.

The service requested the increase to hire four new patrol officers and two new detectives, as well as additional medical staff for the detention unit and a lawyer and privacy officer to facilitate freedom of information guidelines.

The increase amounts to a 3.9 per cent rise over the police service’s 2016 budget.

Police Chief Clive Weighill told council during deliberations property crimes are up 24 per cent on the east side of the city in the last five years.

City yards move deferred

Council, in an effort to tackle the city’s debt, deferred a $92-million plan during budget deliberations to move the city yards from the north downtown area to the Civic Operations Centre near Dundonald Avenue and Valley Road.

The deferral may allow the city to review the plan and explore the option of federal funding.

Council heard the city’s debt in 2015 was $261 million, or 46 per cent of the city’s approved debt limit. The number is lower, per capita, than debt in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg, but councillors were advised the city’s debt could peak in 2023 at $490 million if all outstanding and proposed projects are completed.

Seven-year infrastructure plan passed

Upkeep of infrastructure like bridges, overpasses, playgrounds and paddling pools was a major point of debate during council’s deliberations Wednesday.

Councillors approved a seven-year plan to upgrade and maintain existing infrastructures. The plan will not increase the proposed 2017 property tax hike — of 3.81 per cent after Wednesday’s deliberations — but could mean increases from 2018 to 2023.

Remai Modern staffing money reduced

Councillors managed to cut some money proposed for the Remai Modern art gallery during day-one budget discussions.

A total of $300,000 was proposed to be allocated for staff at the art gallery, but councillor Darren Hill led a push Wednesday to reduce the amount by $75,000. He questioned the $300,000 amount, arguing the staff budget was difficult to pass as proposed because Remai’s opening date has not yet been announced.

He was told by Remai officials during the deliberations the gallery is likely to open in mid-2017, but was not given a specific date.

His motion to cut the staffing money was approved.  

CTV’s Matt Young is covering the 2017 budget deliberations live from city hall’s council chambers: