News Releases

From the January 30, 2017 Meeting

6.1.1 Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport – Meewasin Valley Authority Funding

Decision

*The Committee received the letter as information.

Background

*The letter is a response to James K. Wood, President of the SOS Elms Coalition.
*In the letter, Minister Cheveldayoff says the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that urban parks contribute to a high quality of life and that since 2008, Meewasin has received $8,210,362 in funding.
*The letter states a review of Meewasin Valley Authority is being conducted and will help inform future decisions.

7.2.3 Overview of the 2017 Assessment Roll

Decision

*The Committee received the report as information and will be forwarding it to City Council as information.  A Power Point presentation was provided to the Committee and the Administration will be providing the Power Point to City Council as well. 
*The Committee also asked the Administration to report back on:  a) The ability to coordinate distribution of Property Tax Notices with the distribution of Assessment Notices, for the sake of clarity; and b) A communication plan for the next assessment period, to address the concerns raised by citizens and Councillors this year.

Background

*A property reassessment recalculates property assessment values to a more current valuation date.
*The Province of Saskatchewan made a change to the residential and multi-unit residential percentage of value to be applied to assessed values. This change does not result in individual properties paying more, nor does the City of Saskatoon receive any additional tax revenue.
*Generally speaking, the 2017 assessed values have not increased in value as much as they did in 2013 with the last reassessment.

7.2.6 S&P Global’s Canadian Ratings – City of Saskatoon

Decision

*The committee received the report and is forwarding it to City Council for information.

Background

*The report informs City Council and the general public of the 2015 long-term issuer credit rating report recently prepared and released by S&P Global (formerly Standard & Poor’s Rating Services) reaffirming the City’s “AAA”/Stable outlook credit rating, as well as some of the key rating factors.
*S&P Global has reaffirmed the City’s “AAA”/Stable outlook credit rating based on the 2015 Consolidated Financial Statements and current economic outlook.
*The City compares favourably to the key factors used by S&P to evaluate the City’s credit rating.

From the January 30, 2017 Meeting

The City’s Snow Angel Program is making sidewalk clearing a little easier for Saskatoon residents. Diane Woodley is one of the people who received help from her neighbours this winter and wanted to make sure they were recognized for their efforts.

His Worship, Mayor Charlie Clark, today thanked and presented a gift to this month’s winners of the Snow Angel Program prize draw.

“The Snow Angel Program is a great reminder that we are all in this together,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “It’s about kind acts by people like the Hutchence family, taking the time to help their neighbours. And it’s one way we can come together to build a safe winter city where everyone can get outside and enjoy it.”

Diane Woodley nominated Snow Angels Tom, Katrina, Henry (3) and Andrew (6) Hutchence. Woodley is extremely grateful for the help, having undergone a knee and hip replacement.

“Every time it snows, Tom, Katrina and their sons clear my sidewalk and driveway,” says Woodley. “But, I don’t think Henry has quite figured out how it works yet. While his parents and older brother push snow off my driveway, he moves little piles of snow back on to it.”

When helping others clear their snow and ice there are some important points to remember:

• Always shovel snow on private property and not on the street.
• Chip at ice during the warm daylight hours when it is soft, and easier to break.
• Spread sand on icy patches to increase traction and make it easier to remove ice later.
• Use commercially available de-icing materials before and after ice forms.
• Watch for ice humps that are formed when water drips off of buildings and then freezes on pathways.
• To report an uncleared or dangerous sidewalk, please contact the City Bylaw Inspector at 306-975-3193.
• Residents are reminded to be safe and always exercise caution when working outside and clearing snow and ice for themselves and others.  

To nominate a Snow Angel please visit saskatoon.ca/snow and fill out the form or submit your nomination by mail to 222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon SK, S7K 0J5 or in person at City Hall. Those nominated will receive a thank you and be entered into a prize draw. 

The City of Saskatoon is inviting local non-profit organizations who have a project that would improve quality of life in the winter season to apply for a WinterCityYXE Grant.

Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded to eligible organizations for projects that can be executed next winter and further the goals and objectives of the Winter City Strategy:

• Winter Life: Getting out, celebrating, and enjoying the fun quality of life we have here, even in the coldest months of the year.
• Winter Design: Improving community comfort and accessibility for everyone, even in the ice and snow. 
• Winter Culture: Building enthusiasm for winter, taking advantage of winter opportunities, and telling the story of our winter city.
• Winter Economy: Addressing challenges associated with winter to create a more vibrant economy in the winter.

Figures released today from the 2016 Census reveal Saskatoon added more people than any other community in the province.

“This reinforces the message that Saskatchewan is increasingly urban – 90 per cent of the population growth in the province between 2011 and 2016 happened in Saskatoon, Regina, and their surrounding communities,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. 

“For Saskatoon, we’ve added the equivalent of about five new cities; in the region, we’ve added more than six and a half. This is remarkable growth.”

The data collected by Statistics Canada show the annual average population growth rate in Saskatoon was 2.2% between 2011 and 2016.  Saskatoon grew by 24 thousand people; this accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire provincial population for the same period:

In comparison, the province grew by 6.3% over between 2011 and 2016, or 1.26 % per year.

When the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is considered, over half of the provincial population growth occurred in the Saskatoon region:

“Cities are where the people are going and where the jobs are going,” Mayor Clark says.  Cities are playing an increasingly important role in the future of the province.”

The Census also counts 98,565 dwellings in the city of Saskatoon in 2016 which is an increase of 7,629 occupied dwellings or 7.7% over 2011.

The Saskatoon CMA is made up of the city of Saskatoon and 24 surrounding municipalities and Indian Reserves.

Saskatchewan was the third fastest growing Province or Territory behind Nunavut and Alberta and the second fastest growing province.

The City now has ten new firefighters ready to provide emergency rescue, medical and firefighting service to our community.  The Saskatoon Fire Department today graduated ten firefighters who will now begin their careers with the fire service.

“Today we celebrate the accomplishment of each one of these individuals,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl.  “They’ve been through a rigorous process and this public recognition is an appropriate celebration of their tremendous achievement. We welcome them to our fire family.”

In addition to being firefighters, the graduates are also Primary Care Paramedics. Saskatoon Fire Department ensures that every fire crew has members who are firefighter/paramedics. In 2016, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 12,286 incidents. Of those, 5,573 were life-threatening medical emergencies.

Hackl says the graduation also demonstrates a move toward enhanced front-line emergency care and the investment City Council continues to make for emergency services.

“The Fire Department’s ability to help visitors and residents of Saskatoon in a wide variety of emergencies makes our department a unique and fulfilling place to work.  It also makes our city a great place to live.”
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Backgrounder

• The new firefighters graduated from a fire college recognized by the Saskatoon Fire Department.
• All are licenced Primary Care Paramedics by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.
• At Fire College, each of the new firefighters completed basic training in firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous material mitigation and fire inspections.
• The Saskatoon Fire Department received 99 applications; 48 applicants had every requirement, including proof of a fitness test to confirm they are capable of such a physically demanding job; 31 of the qualified applicants were selected for an initial interview and 24 were invited to an eight-hour ride-along at a fire station.
• The candidates underwent a second interview which narrowed the search to the ten recruits. Candidates still had to successfully complete a medical, vision and hearing test as a well as undergo a Criminal Record Check.  The recruits began their orientation with the department January 16, 2017.
• Throughout their careers, firefighters have opportunities to receive further technical training if they join the Saskatoon Fire Department dangerous goods team or technical rescue team which includes: water, dive, night dive and ice rescue; low and high angle rescue; confined space rescue and trench rescue.

Saskatoon Transit is launching its Class Trip Program. This pilot program, running until June 2017, offers free transit service to teachers, students and chaperones traveling on class field trips. Classes will be able to travel on regular transit routes between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at no charge.

“Moving students around the city can be expensive for teachers and parents,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We see this as a way to make cultural and recreational activities around the city more accessible for teachers who want to take their lessons outside the classroom.”

Free transit service will eliminate the barrier of transportation costs for teachers wishing to take their students on a field trip. Through this program, Saskatoon Transit hopes to highlight the benefit of using transit and how to use and ride the bus.  

“If we can get students interested in public transit, or at least show them how it works, there’s a good chance they’ll see the benefit of using the system in the future,” McDonald says. “The program will offer teachers enough flexibility while having minimal impact on riders traveling during peak periods.”

Teachers can book their class trip two weeks in advance through the online form found on the Saskatoon Transit website. 

The 2017 Assessment Notices were mailed to residents January 9, 2017 and by now, most property owners in Saskatoon will have received their 2017 Assessment Notice.

“The top question we’ve received has focused on the provincial government’s shifting of the ‘percentage of value’ from 70 per cent to 80 per cent for residential properties,” says Darcy Huisman, City Assessor.  “In order for us to be open, accountable and transparent, we want to explain this complex process to anyone who is unsure of what it means.”

Assessment Values

As legislated by the provincial government, the City of Saskatoon (and all municipalities in the province) must conduct a reassessment of all property classes every four years. The purpose of a property reassessment is to recalculate property assessment values so they reflect a more current market value assessment on a base date.  Assessment is a way of trying to balance out the tax load so that owners of similar properties pay similar taxes.

The property assessments in place from 2013 to 2016 were based on January 1, 2011 market levels.  The 2017 assessments are based on market levels as of January 1, 2015, and these assessed values will be in place until the next reassessment in 2021.

“Your property’s 2017 assessed value is not the value of what you’d sell your property for today,” Huisman says. “It is calculated to reflect the market value assessment, or what it might have sold for as of January 1, 2015.”

Changes in the real estate market after January 1, 2015 will be reflected in the next province-wide reassessment in 2021.  As per legislation, market data or information that surfaced after January 1, 2015 cannot be considered in the 2017 Reassessment. 

What does “percentage of value” mean, and because it changed for 2017, will I pay more property taxes?

The Province of Saskatchewan undertakes a review of the “percentage of value” to be applied to the assessed values of properties every four years in conjunction with a reassessment.  This allows for the shifting of the tax burden on a province-wide basis to different property classes.

“For the 2017 Reassessment, the Province changed the percentage of value for the residential and multi-unit residential tax class from 70% to 80% and this created questions from many property owners,” Huisman says.

The new percentage is then applied to the assessed value of a property to arrive at the taxable assessment which is used for taxation.

“This is a crucial point.  The Province’s change in percentage of value has no impact on the amount of taxes collected by the City of Saskatoon,” Huisman says.

Huisman notes this may seem to be the total opposite but explains that the City ensures all changes to property values at a property class level, including the percentage change from 70% to 80%, are revenue neutral.  This means when the taxable assessment increases, the tax rates – or the multipliers the City uses – are decreased to ensure the same dollar amounts are used as the starting point for any tax increase or decrease.

To achieve revenue neutrality, the mill rate (the multiplier) is adjusted downwards by the use of mill rate factors to account for all of the above circumstances.  This calculation ensures that the City collects the same tax revenue as it had the previous year from each property class, with the exception of any changes that have occurred due to the 2017 budget deliberations. 

Because of the tax tools available, the City of Saskatoon can apply its own mill rate factors to shift the tax burden back to how it was, from 80% back to 70%. This keeps the taxes collected by the City the same. The following is an example and is for illustrative purposes only.  It shows the effect that a change in residential assessment and ‘percentage of value’ has on the mill rate based on a revenue neutral state.

*Tax rates are rounded.
**In spring 2017, budget changes are added to the revenue neutral tax rates to determine the new tax rates for 2017.

2017 Assessment Roll

As a result of updating the assessed values to a more current valuation date, it is common for property values to change in response to supply and demand factors within the market.  Generally speaking, in Saskatoon the 2017 assessed values have not increased in value as much as they had in the last reassessment in 2013. 

The 2017 Assessment Roll is currently open for the 60-Day Customer Review Period from January 9, 2017 to March 10, 2017.  This period gives property owners the opportunity to review their assessment, ask questions about their property’s assessment and file formal appeals if deemed necessary by whomever has an interest in the property.  Information about filing a formal appeal is provided on the back of the 2017 Assessment Notice as well as on saskatoon.ca, or call 306-975-3227 to speak with an assessment appraiser who will be pleased to speak with you.

Supporting Resources to Further Assist with Property Owners’ Assessment Related Questions

The 2017 Assessment Notice contains detailed assessment information. View Your Guide to Information Found on the 2017 Assessment Notice on saskatoon.ca, or pick one up at the Assessment display in the lobby of City Hall.

Property owners can also find informative 2017 Assessment brochures at all Saskatoon Public Library locations and at Leisure Facilities throughout the city.  A timeline insert also accompanied all 2017 Assessment notices, giving property owners a detailed timeline, phone numbers, information on the formal appeal process, and online resource information.

Property owners can preview the effect of the 2017 Reassessment on their property taxes (not including the 2017 budget changes) by using the Revenue Neutral Property Tax Estimator.  The information you need to get started is found on your 2017 Assessment notice.

The Property Assessment & Tax Tool shows information specific to your property. Enter your property address to check the property details that may have been used in the 2017 Reassessment. You can also review market area sales, check neighbourhood properties similar to yours, and see your property’s tax history.

The factors used to determine your residential property’s assessed value are varied.  To learn more about the factors that do or do not influence your property’s assessed value, view the informative video Understanding Your Residential Property Assessment at saskatoon.ca/assessment.

Most assessment related concerns can be addressed by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions on saskatoon.ca/assessment, or by calling 306-975-3227 and speaking with an assessment appraiser prior to filing a formal appeal with required fees.

Property taxes are never displayed on Assessment Notices, as only assessments may be appealed on the basis of assessment values, and not taxes.  As well, taxes are never recalculated on a property basis. 

In March 2017, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance and City Council will be presented with an Administrative Report on tax policy issues, including recommendations for appeal contingencies and phase-in for the commercial tax class.

The 2017 Property Tax Notice will be mailed to property owners in May 2017, and property tax payments are due June 30, 2017.

Residents are encouraged to visit saskatoon.ca/assessment or call 306-975-3227 for any assessment related inquiries they may have.

The City of Saskatoon is inviting residents to help create a new approach to how we perceive winter in Saskatoon. WinterCityYXE, Saskatoon’s Winter City Strategy, will identify ways in which we can work together as a community to make Saskatoon a great place to live in the winter time.

“The Winter City YXE Strategy will help make our city more accessible in the winter so that everyone can participate in winter life, identify ways to create more activity and bring more energy to the winter season,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives. “We want to create a more resilient economy outside of the summer and Christmas seasons, so we are asking our community stakeholders to help us identify what changes are necessary, and to work with us in making these changes in our community for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.”

The City is engaging residents, business owners, community groups and other stakeholders to develop a ‘blizzard’ of ideas in the following areas:

• Winter Life: How can we celebrate the inviting and fun quality of life we have here, even in the coldest months of the year?
• Winter Design: How can we improve community comfort and accessibility for everyone, even in the ice and snow? 
• Winter Culture: How can we build enthusiasm for winter, take advantage of winter opportunities, and tell the story of our winter city?
• Winter Economy: How can we address challenges associated with winter to create a more vibrant economy in the winter?

Citizens are invited to provide their ideas and comments online, by e-mail or by mail and will be provided with tools to host their own “Kitchen Table Talks.” The City will also host a number of roundtable sessions and meetings with stakeholder groups.  

To encourage creative thinking, the City created an inventory of winter facilities, activities and events that already exist in Saskatoon. The exercise will share experiences from other cities, including Edmonton, which recently launched a major winter city initiative gaining recognition around the world. Results from this phase of engagement, and a plan to move forward with the Strategy development will be presented to City Council in the spring.

In addition, the City is making available grant funding totalling $35,000 to support pilot initiatives which advance learning in this area or move core concepts of the Strategy forward.  Grant dollars are available for new winter program or design initiatives that add a new dimension to existing initiatives, pilot an urban design concept in a high-use public area, and/or facilitate linkages between existing initiatives to create new outcomes.

For more information on the Winter City Strategy, grant funding opportunities, or the community engagement process, visit Saskatoon.ca/wintercityyxe.

From the January 9, 2017 Meeting