Saskatoon city budget deliberations underway

Saskatoon city councillors have begun deliberations on the second year of their two year budget cycle.

While the 2023 budget was approved last year at a total of $1.28 billion, administration is proposing an increase to $1.33 billion. Chief Financial Officer Clae Hack said changes to the budget included “significant changes” to the city’s economic landscape.

Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper and Board of Police Commissioners Co-Chair Jo Custead presented their case for a $760,000 increase to their budget, which could include an extra 11 full-time police officers.

Information reports were also presented by Remai Modern which is proposing an additional three full-time staff for 2023, SaskTel Centre, and TCU Place.

Asks over and above what has already been included in next year’s budget were also made by representatives for the Attainable Housing Program, the Saskatoon SPCA, the Heritage Program, and the West Industrial Concept Plan, among others.

According to administration, the size of the city workforce could also be expanding. Last year, council agreed to an extra 59.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff.

That number, according to Chief Financial Officer Clae Hack, has since increased by 18 to 77.6 FTEs.

Last year, city councillors approved a property tax increase of 3.53 per cent, or $70.43 for the year, for a home with an average price of $344,000. This year, however, the preliminary number is 4.38 per cent, or $87.30 per year.

Budget deliberations are scheduled to continue until Nov. 30.