City Council approves 2026/2027 Budget priorities, focusing on core infrastructure, safety, and affordability

Saskatoon City Council approved the City’s 2026/2027 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget today. Council deliberated for over 30 hours, heard input from 30 speakers and considered over 75 written submissions.

The approved budget prioritizes core services like public safety and transportation infrastructure while addressing emerging priorities including affordable housing and homelessness.

“This budget reflects our commitment to building a strong, safe and inclusive Saskatoon,” says Mayor Cynthia Block. “At a time when inflation is putting real pressure on both households and City operations, Council made thoughtful, responsible choices that protect our core services and invest in what matters most - our roads and sidewalks, our parks and natural spaces and the safety and well-being of our residents.

“We are strengthening our police and fire services, supporting an Indigenous-led peacekeeping pilot in the core, and increasing our investment in affordable housing. These are investments in our future, and they ensure Saskatoon remains a vibrant, resilient city for everyone.”

Over the next two years, City Council’s approved initiatives will strengthen neighborhoods, expand infrastructure to support a growing city and promote long-term sustainability. 

Key investments include:

• $84.4M in 2026 and $89.4M in 2027 to resurface roadways, improve network reliability and maintain winter snow clearing standards across a larger service area.
• $18.17M in 2026 and $19.26M in 2027, the largest ever investment in the City’s Facility Maintenance Program to preserve and protect our assets such as City- owned buildings.
• $600,000 in 2026 and $1.00M in 2027 to provide Police support focused on Saskatoon Transit public safety.

Along with these investments, the 2026/2027 Budget maintains the City's decade-long commitment to fiscal discipline. When adjusted for inflation and population growth, Saskatoon's operating spending per resident in 2026 is approximately 10 per cent lower than in 2015. This budget continues this approach while still making the needed strategic investments to address both existing priorities and emerging opportunities.

To fund these investments, Council reduced the preliminary 2026 Budget by $4.92M, and the 2027 Budget by $549,100 to result in a final municipal property tax rate of 6.70 per cent in 2026 and 5.81 per cent in 2027. For a property owner with an average assessed value of $394,200, this means an increase of $13.18 per month ($158.19 annually) in 2026, and $12.20 per month ($146.45 annually) in 2027.

"City Council's budget decisions balance the opportunities and pressures that come with adding 25,000 residents in just two years," says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson. "The investments in this multi-year budget position the City to address our community's most critical infrastructure needs and service demands, while maintaining financial discipline. The collective decisions of City Council over this past week also enable us to continue our high-performance organizational journey by not just doing more work, but by doing it better. Administration is ready to deliver on Council's direction."

According to the Multi-Year Budget and Business Plan Policy, City Council retains flexibility to make budgetary adjustments in response to unforeseen events or circumstances. More information on this process will be provided in 2026.

The City thanks all residents, organizations, and businesses who shared input prior to and during budget deliberations. Your feedback helped shape investment decisions that matter most to our community.

The finalized 2026/2027 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget document will be available at saskatoon.ca/budget in the new year.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget to review key investment highlights from Council's approved 2026/2027 Budget.