Saskatoon needs further spending cuts: Taxpayers Federation
SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Saskatoon city council to cut spending further to avoid tax hikes.
“Taxpayers can’t afford to pay any more to fund Saskatoon’s bloated budget,” Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director, said. “City council can’t keep forcing taxpayers to finance its spending spree.”
The July 25 special budget meeting resulted in the projected deficit falling to $29 million in 2024 and $20 million in 2025. This would result in a 10 per cent property tax increase in 2024 and a six per cent increase in 2025. That means the average homeowner would pay an extra $390 in property taxes in 2025.
Since 2018, the city has hiked property tax rates by 19 per cent. During the same time, the city increased spending by 13 per cent. The city hired 275 additional bureaucrats over those five years.
Almost half of homeowners are having trouble paying their monthly housing costs.
“Mayor Charlie Clark and city council have been passing the buck to Saskatoon taxpayers for too long,” Haubrich said. “It’s time for Clark and council to recognize that taxpayers are tapped out and can’t afford any more tax hikes.”
Saskatoon five-year spending, employee count and property tax hikes
|
Saskatoon |
Total expenses |
Per person expenses |
Full time employees |
Property tax hikes |
|
2018 |
$804,016,000 |
$2,998 |
3,686 |
3.8% |
|
2019 |
$819,556,000 |
$2,978 |
3,747 |
4.4% |
|
2020 |
$856,386,000 |
$3,054 |
3,815 |
3.7% |
|
2021 |
$892,301,000 |
$3,161 |
3,860 |
2.8% |
|
2022 |
$906,786,000 |
$3,145 |
3,961 |
3.9% |
|
Growth |
13% |
5% |
7% |
19% |