City releases Preliminary 2024/2025 Detailed Operating and Capital Summary Budget
As part of the City’s Multi -Year Business Plan and Budget Process, the City produces three key documents to inform City Council and the public prior to its November Budget Deliberations. For the 2024/2025 two-year budget cycle, the documents include:
- The Preliminary 2024/2025 Detailed Operating and Capital Summary Budget
- The Preliminary 2024/2025 Detailed Capital Budget
- The 2024/2025 Preliminary Budget Introduction and Climate Budget
“In our prior multi-year budgets, we had released our three budget documents at the same time. This year, to allow for as much time as possible for City Council, stakeholders and residents to review the preliminary budget documents before budget deliberations, the 2024/2025 Preliminary Budget documents will now be released as they each become finalized by Administration,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer.
As such, the City has today released the Preliminary 2024/2025 Detailed Operating and Capital Summary Budget.
“Today’s budget release provides the background context and full details on the proposed funding requirements for the City’s 87 different Service Lines. It also reflects the approximately $35 million in budgetary decisions made by City Council over the course of dedicated Special Budget Meetings held over the summer,” adds Hack.
“City Council and Administration have continued to work together to address the unprecedented inflationary pressures faced not only by the City of Saskatoon, but many other municipalities across Canada. We are committed to investing the City’s budget wisely for today, and for the future, and delivering our services and programs with the most value for taxpayer dollars in our community for all residents who call Saskatoon home.”
Dedicating the key investments required to support the delivery of core services and maintain infrastructure are funding priorities within the Preliminary 2024/2025 Operating and Capital Budget. Some highlights include:
- The largest ever investment in the City’s Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation Programs, $72 million in 2024 and $78 million in 2025 (includes the Road Maintenance, Bridges and Transportation Service Lines);
- Investment in two new Firehalls to address emergency response for the City’s expanding neighbourhoods;
- The largest ever investment in the City’s Facility Maintenance Program to preserve and protect our assets, $10.8 million in 2024 and $11.8 million in 2025;
- Opening of the City’s Material Recovery Centre, a major achievement for the City as we work toward our 70% waste diversion goal;
- Investment into the City’s Snow and Ice Management Program to repay the 2022 Emergency Snow Response and to build funding to respond to future emergency/large-scale snow events; and
- Increased funding for several services including Fire, Parks, Street Lighting, Sidewalks, Transit and Street Sweeping, will help address public safety, protection, and servicing needs within Saskatoon, one of the fastest growing and diverse cities in Canada.
To date, City Council and Administration have made meaningful progress working toward finding the proper balance between delivering core service levels residents and businesses expect for taxpayer dollars, maintaining affordability and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
Reflecting all the reductions already directed by City Council throughout the Special Budget Meetings held over summer, the Administration’s preliminary business plan and budget currently contains a yet-to-be-approved ‘starting point’ 7.14% property tax increase in 2024, and 5.7% in 2025. Still to be considered by City Council is the final full review of the City’s 87 distinct Service Lines and 58 additional Administrative Options. There will undoubtedly be a number of further changes made to finalize the 2024/2025 Business Plan and Budget.
City Council will seek to find the right balance, making its final investment decisions at the 2024/2025 Budget Deliberations set for November 28-30, 2023. Members of the public who wish to participate in the 2024/2025 final budget review by either submitting a letter and/or requesting to speak to City Council must arrange to do so before the cut-off, Monday, November 27, 2023, at 5 p.m.
Visit saskatoon.ca/budget