Saskatoon council votes to hike property taxes by 3.93 per cent
Saskatoon city council landed on a 3.93 per cent property tax hike for 2023.
Administration proposed a 4.38 per cent hike, but council found more than $1 million in savings to reduce the rate.
The city passed the 2023 budget on Tuesday, the second day of budget deliberations.
“This is a good budget. It allows us to continue to provide the services our residents rely on and we’ve been able to bring the tax increase below four per cent,” Mayor Charlie Clark said after the meeting.
To bring down the property tax rate, council adjusted its forecasted fuel costs for city vehicles, including police.
Administration assumed the rate of $1.70 for gasoline, but with prices changing, Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer suggested the city reduce the assumed cost by 10 cents — resulting in $750,000 of savings from the 2023 budget.
“We had put in a contingency for fuel prices that’s really conservative and we brought that back down a little bit,” Clark said.
Council also reallocated money from Saskatoon Light & Power and cutting the special events reserve by about $70,000.
“Sometimes we have to make tough decisions,” Ward 10 Coun. Zach Jefferies said in the meeting.
Jefferies also tried to convince council to save about $25,000 by reducing hours at the landfill on statutory holidays, but it was rejected.
The 2023 figures are part of a multi-year budget, pre-approved by council last year. The numbers were adjusted to account for inflationary pressures, according to Saskatoon’s chief financial officer Clae Hack.
“I think city council did a good job over last past couple days to whittle down our tax approach and get to a number that balances those numbers accordingly,” Hack said.
The agreed upon property tax increase on Tuesday amounts to $6.53 more each month for the owner of an average Saskatoon home with an assessed value of $344,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.