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
Canada sends military aircraft into Haiti's skies as gang violence escalates
Canada has sent one of its military planes to Haiti to help the country cope with escalating violence. A joint statement today from National Defence Minister Anita Anand and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada has deployed a CP-140 Aurora aircraft to help 'disrupt the activities of gangs' in Haiti.

New study highlights increasing prevalence of muscle dysmorphia among Canadian boys, young men
Canadian researchers are drawing attention to the increasing prevalence of 'a pathological pursuit of muscularity' among Canadian boys and young men, with a new study that found one in four were at risk of developing what's known as muscle dysmorphia.
Five things to know about upcoming health-care talks between Trudeau, premiers
On Tuesday in Ottawa, Canada's 13 premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will sit around the same table in person for the first time since COVID-19 hoping to find a path toward a new long-term health-care funding deal.
China has reasons to keep cool after U.S. downs suspected spy balloon
China may respond to the U.S. shooting down its suspected spy balloon after warning of 'serious repercussions,' but analysts say any move will likely be finely calibrated to keep from worsening ties that both sides have been seeking to repair.
Former Israeli PM: Putin promised not to kill Zelenskyy
A former Israeli prime minister who served briefly as a mediator at the start of Russia's war with Ukraine says he drew a promise from the Russian president not to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
Canadian hitmakers vie for Grammys alongside some of pop music's biggest stars
Pop superstars Bryan Adams, Michael Buble and Drake could emerge Grammy Awards winners today, but it's the Canadian hitmakers behind the scenes who are chasing some of the top prizes.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
Justice minister open to amending bail laws, OPP commissioner says change 'needed now'
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti says he is open to amending bail laws, which have come under increased scrutiny following the shooting death of an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
U.S. downs Chinese balloon, drawing a threat from China
The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian aircraft and threatened repercussions.