A property tax increase is on the table as Saskatoon city council begins two days of budget deliberations on Tuesday.

The 2015 preliminary budget unveiled last month proposed a 7.32 per cent tax hike -- including a dedicated road improvement levy of 2.92 per cent -- but negative feedback from some city councillors and residents has already resulted in options to trim any tax increase.

The latest proposal from city administration says the proposed tax increase could fall to 5.49 per cent if other savings are found.

Those proposed savings include a plan to spread out money for roadway improvements over additional years and to delay the relocation of the city yards by one year.

Administration also stated moving to bi-weekly garbage collection year-round instead of the weekly service provided from April to October could cut costs by an estimated $70,000 per month.

Coun. Charlie Clark says reducing the frequency of garbage collection is something to consider.

“Once we got recycling, people’s garbage use is going down by quite a bit and I think it is something worth looking at,” Clark said.

But the concept of reducing services while raising taxes doesn’t sit well with some councillors.

"We charge the residents more in their taxes next year but we provide less service for them and I don’t think there is an appetite for that out in the community,” said Coun. Randy Donauer. “I think there is better ways for us to lower this budget.”

The road levy proposed in the initial 2015 budget is identical to the one approved for 2014. It would add $5 million to roadway funding, bringing total spending to $53 million, including $38 million for maintenance of roads and sidewalks. It also includes a $1 million increase for snow and ice management.

Capital investments include a combined $70 million for the Boychuk Drive and McOrmand Drive interchanges and $8 million for repairs to the University Bridge.

The police service is looking for an additional $4.5 million with most going to salary increases as well as 10.5 new positions, including eight patrol officers.

A new contract for firefighters has the fire department asking for an additional $2.7 million over last year.