Saskatoon’s ‘super icky’ budget debate yields big tax wallop

Saskatoon city council got a stark warning about the perils of the pending property tax hike at the start of last week’s budget talks.

Frank Regier, who frequently attends council meetings and speaks occasionally to warn of the real-life effects of rising property taxes, cautioned there might be “no Christmas” if the property tax increase remains high.

“This is not going to be a good Christmas, “ lamented Regier, decked out in his signature split home-and-away Saskatoon Blades jersey. “Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time. As the bills mount up, you think, ‘Am I going to have lights on, food in the house or pay my tax bill?’”

Regier attended the marathon four-day budget debate, where the proposed property tax hike of 7.43 per cent for next year — tied for the highest-ever — was cut to 6.17 per cent and then bounced back up on Day 4 to 6.7 per cent. Or six-seven, as the kids say.

Of course, the city’s budget holds more meaning than the infamously cryptic numeric catchphrase.

And this budget, more than any in recent memory, drilled down into the details. City council was tasked with rendering thumbs up or down on 108 measures to either cut spending, raise fees or shift money around.

In the end, council backed just 45 options, almost all in the low-hanging-fruit category — although you may not agree with that characterization if you’re a golfer, hockey player or skater, pet owner, bus rider or someone who has to haul waste to the landfill.

Fees for those activities are all increasing.

Yet council steered clear of truly gut-wrenching decisions. Many of the quality-of-life options never even got a debate. 

So, George Ward Pool will stay open for at least a few years. Bus service will continue on its current schedule instead of ending an hour earlier. And recreation centres retain their opening hours.

But the tax increase is truly eye-popping, quite possibly the second-highest in Saskatoon history for city services. Another hit of 5.81 per cent follows in 2027.

A discussion about enforcing a little-known bylaw to charge people $150 if they need help from firefighters after they’ve fallen was described as “super icky” by Coun. Zach Jeffries.

That may well be, but should the city’s taxpayers be paying for so-called lift assists? Council heard that some people abuse the support by failing to follow medical advice.

And it’s a growing issue, with 1,728 calls recorded so far this year, already surpassing last year's total of 1,723.