Property taxes for Saskatoon homeowners will rise 3.89 per cent next year.
City council finalized the 2017 budget Thursday, on day two of deliberations at city hall’s council chambers.
A homeowner whose property is valued at the market average $325,000 will pay $66.18 more per year next year.
Much of the new money will be put toward roads and snow removal as well as the fire department, police service and civic operations budgets.
Day one of budget deliberations saw council increase the Saskatoon Police Service budget by $3.3 million, defer a $92-million plan to move the city yards, approve a seven-year plan to upgrade and maintain infrastructure, and reduce the staffing budget for the yet-to-open Remai Modern art gallery by $75,000.
Day two was highlighted by more money for Access Transit, changes to green fees and funds for a full-time employee to assist city councillors.
Deliberations were initially set to last into Friday.
Access Transit receiving additional driver
Bus fares for 2017 won’t be going up. Council’s budget did not include Saskatoon Transit fare increases. However, councillors voted to add just over $76,000 to the budget to hire another bus operator for Access Transit.
Golf and leisure rates up
The budget increases to green fee rates at the city’s three golf courses — Holiday Park, Wildwood and Silverwood —and a rise in rates for registered leisure programs.
Employee added
An additional employee was added to the city’s payroll Thursday. Council approved $79,900 for a full-time employee to assist councillors.
CTV’s Matt Young was covering the 2017 budget deliberations live from city hall’s council chambers:
