Shaping Our Financial Future: 2017 Corporate Business Plan & Budget Highlights

Following extensive review of the 2017 Preliminary Corporate Business Plan and Budget, November 30 and December 1, 2016, His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark and City Council have finalized investment decisions for 2017. The property tax increase is finalized at 3.89%.

“The final investment decisions made are disciplined and responsible,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Asset and Financial Management. “While funding could not be allocated to every budgetary ask, City Council’s budget decisions accomplish a strong balance between the investments that the City needs to be modern and progressive, and the service level expectations they heard through public consultation this year - without placing a heavy financial burden on citizens in 2017.”

To fulfill and maintain the City’s investment plans, service level commitments and dedicated programs, the 2017 property tax increase will be distributed as follows: 1.93% Roadway Levy, 0.55% Snow & Ice Levy, and 1.41% to  remaining civic programs and services.

What This Means To Residential Property Owners

The 3.89% property tax increase for 2017 will generate an additional $7.9 million for the City’s Operating Budget, to be invested into the rehabilitation and maintenance of roadways, the snow and ice management program, and for the expenditure increases associated with all other civic programs and services. Here is the breakdown:

2017 Operating and Capital Budget Highlights

Total Operating Budget: $812.0 million (Civic - $482.0 million, Utilities - $330.0 million)

• Over $61.7 million invested in Building Better Roads including Road Maintenance, Snow & Ice Management and Street Cleaning and Sweeping
• Over $13.6 million for the continued maintenance and design of the City’s growing park infrastructure
• $5.0 million invested in Access Transit, including additional operators which will provide an additional 4,800 rides to customers on an annual basis
• $41.2 million invested in the delivery of Transit services to deliver 1,688 bus stops across 35 bus routes and 276 km of city streets
• $97.5 million invested in the Saskatoon Police Service including 6 new Constables

Total Capital Budget: $260.7 million

• $28.7 million in Transit related infrastructure and planning as part of the Federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
• $21.6 million in 2017 for the repair, replacement and renewal of existing water and wastewater infrastructure under the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund
• $7.0 million for Phase I of Recovery Park to improve Landfill sustainability
• $32.1 million dedicated to paved roadway and sidewalk preservation
• $5.3 million for the replacement of Fire Station No. 3 to improve community safety

Total 2017 Operating & Capital Budget Combined: $1,072.7 million
The Corporate Business Plan and Budget frames the detailed investment decisions the City will follow in 2017. Not just about revenues and expenditures, the finalized Business Plan and Budget provide a reflection of what City Council, residents, businesses and the community as a whole value. More importantly, key public feedback gathered throughout 2016 was fully considered by City Council in the shaping and building of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.

The City’s Strategic Goal of Asset and Financial Sustainability commits to budget planning that is open and transparent, and that the City invests in what matters. To address the needs of citizens today and tomorrow, the City is focused on the long-term goal of managing the City in a smart, sustainable way.

Visit saskatoon.ca/financialfuture for more budget and financial information.