'Think like business owners': Saskatoon business group urges city council to reduce property tax hike
With city councillors beginning budget deliberations this week, a Saskatoon business group is calling for a reduction in the proposed property tax rate hike.
In the preliminary two-year budget prepared by City of Saskatoon administrative staff, property taxes are proposed to increase 3.51 per cent in 2022 and 3.14 per cent in 2023.
The budget still must be approved by city council and councillors can make tweaks to the proposed financial plan.
As they make their final decisions, the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) is asking councillors to "think like business owners" and find ways to reduce property taxes.
"The NSBA commends the efforts taken to reduce the proposed tax increase from the indicative budget in August, and we appreciate the time and effort put into the 2022/2023 budget," NSBA executive director Keith Moen said in a news release.
"But we would suggest that the city must make further efforts to reduce taxes even more," Moen said.
Earlier this year, city administration recommended higher property tax increases of 5.96 per cent and 5.42 per cent in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
City councillors directed administration to find ways to whittle down the hike.
According to the NSBA, the rise in property taxes in recent years "has grown at a significantly higher rate than the consumer price index (CPI)."
The CPI is calculated by Statistics Canada and tracks changes in price as experienced by Canadian consumers.
The NSBA is recommending the city consider steps including a hiring freeze across all departments, excluding Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire Department.
"It would be a win for the city and our economy if the council and administration could reduce property tax from the proposed 3.51 per cent increase to something at, near or below the CPI, just like our neighbours in the cities of Edmonton and Winnipeg have," Moen said.
Tax increases were held to tax increases 70 1.8 per cent in Edmonton and 2.3 per cent in Winnipeg, according to Moen.
City council is set to debate the budget during three days of meetings starting on Monday.
The NSBA has outlined its recommendations in a formal submission to council.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.