The second day of budget talks in Saskatoon resulted in a 4.96 per cent property tax increase.
Discussions about potential cuts to the City of Saskatoon’s 2025 budget led to a further reduction of the proposed 5.16 per cent property tax increase when the new city council resumed its budget meeting on Tuesday.
Council brought the increase down to 4.96 per cent before concluding the meeting around 11 a.m.
“We’re in a stronger position than we were in 2024,” city manager Jeff Jorgenson said after the two days of debates and discussions.
Some key points of interest:
1 — Snow and ice
The budget originally proposed by the administration allocated an extra $1.1 million to the 2025 snow removal budget. A motion to boost that increase to $2.1 million failed, but council did vote to increase the snow removal budget by $1.6 million instead.
This addition was made after council heard the city budgets for five snow events each year, but recent years have brought six or more such events.
Chief financial officer Clae Hack noted there have been times in the past when the city had fewer snow events; in that case, unused funds are returned to the snow removal budget.
2 — Housekeeping snags
Coun. Randy Donauer brought up issues with notes taken by administration staff on Monday, which showed multiple movers and seconders for motions, creating some confusion. An issue was also raised when an amendment proposed by Coun. Bev Dubois on Monday was reworded for clarity without her consent.
“I don’t mean to blow things out of proportion here. But to show up this morning and to see the mover and seconder changed, and the wording was changed from my motion, then I’m thinking what am I here for?” Donauer said.
The issues were resolved with apologies from city staff, as well as an explanation.
Near the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Cynthia Block accidentally made a motion to adjourn before the final vote had been taken. In the end, the final budget passed unopposed.
3 — Nutrien Wonderhub’s lease
Managers of the Nutrien Wonderhub children’s museum asked council to reduce the cost of its building lease with the city by 50 per cent; the city administration recommended council reject the request.
In its report, the administration outlined that the city has a provision within the lease to renegotiate base rent every five years.
Coun. Kathryn MacDonald proposed having city staff work with the Wonderhub to renew its agreement for five years with full provision for the base rental rate of $164,900, with the city covering facility management costs under $5,000 and budget insurance costs. Her motion carried.
Concerns were expressed that even though the motion carried, the agreement still requires Wonderhub’s approval. Hack said the situation could go through a lease dispute process if that happens, but council will be updated regardless of the outcome.
“Any bit of help like this is certainly great. Just note, once again, that we have a different perspective in terms of administration’s ability to enforce those new costs as they have proposed based on the signed lease and operating agreement,” Wonderhub CEO Leah Brodie said.
4 — Small adjustments
Council approved motions to decrease the estimated amount of parking revenue expected in 2025 by $500,000, and to reduce the amount set aside for maintenance of civic buildings by $250,000.
Coun. Jasmin Parker warned about kicking the can down the road when it comes to maintenance for civic buildings. However, “I’ve only been here for nine days,” Parker noted.
The city’s reserve fund covers maintenance work on all city-owned buildings for things like roof repairs or boiler replacements. Delaying such projects can result in larger repairs or replacement down the line, city staff said.
Regarding the parking revenue reduction, Hack noted the budgeted amount is often higher than the actual amount collected.
“So even though we’ve seen increases in our actual results in this revenue source, it hasn’t been able to meet budget. So the original budget included a reduction in that revenue source in order to align it closer to the actuals that we’re expecting,” Hack said.
5 — New fire inspectors
Council approved a request from the fire department to add two more fire inspectors to its staff. Assistant fire Chief Yvonne Raymer told council on Monday that the department has a backlog of more than 1,600 property maintenance complaints.
The fire department noted that these additional resources are needed for areas like the Emergency Wellness Centre and the temporary shelter slated for Pacific Avenue.
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