Saskatoon releases proposed 2016 budget

Homeowners in Saskatoon can expect to be shelling out more money if the City’s proposed budget for next year is approved with its 3.95 per cent property tax increase.

The proposed 2016 budget was released Monday at Executive Council. For the average home listed at $325,000, that 3.95 per cent would translate into another $65 a year on tax bills.

Half of that increase is dedicated to improving roads, which will be funded for a third year with a dedicated road levy. Four-point-one million would be added to the pot bringing the road budget total to $57.5 million in 2016.
 
The police service budget eats up another 1.62 per cent of the increase including the addition of 8 new constables next year, while the fire department increase takes up 0.69 per cent and debt repayment for traffic sound walls makes up the remainder.
 
City Manager Murray Totland said the budget is a reflection on what residents asked for last summer during a civic survey.
 
“They said those were the two most important things and priorities for them. This budget reflects increased investment in both those areas,” he said.
 
Totland said he believes the proposed increase balances those priorities without cutting services.

“Our citizens expect a better service level in our city and there prepared to spend money where they see value,” he said.
 
“There really aren’t any reductions and infact there are some modest service level increase in things like snow and ice.”
 
The city expects to bring in more revenue next year. However the additional $15-million will be offset by an increase in expenditures, which rise by $22.5 million to $457.1  million. Nearly half of that will go toward wages and benefits.
 
A few months ago the proposed tax increase was sitting at 4.35 per cent. Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff said through operating efficiencies and additional revenue from Sask Power’s utility rate increase the proposed tax increase was brought under 4 per cent.
 
On the capital side, the budget proposes $177.2 million in various projects, which is a reduction of over 48-million from 2015.
 
Notable projects:  
 
$15.5 million for sound walls
$5.5 million to rehab the Idylwyld Drive Ruth overpass.
$1.2 million for a new fire hall.
$1 million for an arena partnership
 
The budget isn’t finalized yet and council will decide what stays and goes when deliberations begin on November 30th.
 
There is also a new way for the public to weigh in on the budget and until November 13th the city is encouraging residents to share their views using a new interactive tool on the city’s website.
 
The proposed budget was released a month sooner this year after councillors expressed concern last year that not enough time was given to get input and make changes.