News Releases

With the help of careful spending and provincial and federal financial support, the City will be able to cover a $701,813 deficit with a transfer from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve.

Details of the financial strategy’s outcome are in a report for the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Finance April 12 meeting. The report outlines the 2020 fiscal year-end subject to the confirmation of the external audit.  

“Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for the City,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “The COVID-19 pandemic, a major blizzard, implementation of our new FUSION Enterprise Resource Planning system and the 2020 civic election all presented significant financial impacts on our operations and organization.”

“Through the assistance of the provincial and federal governments and the results of our discretionary hiring and spending restrictions throughout most of 2020, the Administration made some astute fiscal projections given the information we had on hand at the beginning of the pandemic.”

2020 Preliminary Year-End Financials at a Glance

The deficit remaining for the year ended December 31, 2020, is $701,813, which the Administration recommends being funded from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve. Included in this deficit is the $15 million reduction in the transfer to the Paved Roadways Infrastructure Reserve by using the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) funding to replace the reduction of the reserve contribution for the Paved Roadways program. This also assumes that the following recommended items will be approved by City Council:

• The transfer from the Snow and Ice Management Contingency Reserve as per Council Policy No. C03-003 in the amount of $3,453,144; and

• Waiving the transfer to the Internal Audit Program Reserve for $316,740.

“We view the 2020 Preliminary Year-End Financials as having a successful overall result, considering the extensive costs incurred due to cleanup of the 2020 blizzard, which resulted in the Snow and Ice Program being more than $10 million overspent, all included as part of the 2020 year-end figures,” Smith says.

The Administration recommends the City’s Fiscal Stabilization Reserve be used to cover the remaining $701,813 deficit leaving just over $4 million in that reserve. 

The transfer of funds to the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve is an annual process based on Council Policy. It helps offset any tax-supported operating deficits incurred in a year.

“Several of the challenges presented to the City proved difficult to predict, given we had no previous historical data to rely on. We will continue our prudent fiscal management, accountability, and transparency, which will allow for the strengthening of this important Reserve as we navigate 2021 and the ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic,” adds Smith.

City utilities posted surpluses and the Saskatoon Police Service was under budget by $914,000.  All three of the controlled corporations (SaskTel Centre, TCU Place, and Remai Modern) were able to cover their deficits through their own means, having no impact on the City’s year-end results.   

View Preliminary Year-End Results Year Ending December 31, 2020

View all surpluses and variances within the Detailed Overview of Preliminary Year-End Financial Results

Visit saskatoon.ca

Following continuous public safety concerns from illegal dumping, scavenging, nuisance and criminal behaviour, the City Administration recommends a permanent closure of the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot located at 22^nd Street & Whitney Avenue. The proposal is presented in a report going to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on Monday, April 12.

The Meadowgreen Local Area Plan (LAP) approved by City Council in June 2017 included 25 recommendations as a result of input from over 90 residents, stakeholders and 50 members of City Administration. One of these recommendations addressed the north back lane of the 2700, 2800 and 2900 blocks of 21^st Street West (adjacent to the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot) as an area that experienced nuisance conditions and criminal activity; many of which are related to the depot.

As a temporary measure, the City recently reduced operating hours, installed fencing around the site, and implemented 24/7 security surveillance.

“We regret that it has come to this, but ongoing issues have left us with no choice but to recommend permanent closure,” says Lynne Lacroix, General Manager Community Services. “The actions of some individuals have led to the possibility of removing a public facility that allows well-intentioned residents to responsibly divert their recycling from the City landfill.”

“Unfortunately, we can no longer commit the resources required to maintain the site, keep residents safe, and uphold the appearance of the lanes adjacent to the depot; nor do we wish to enable nuisance or criminal activity in any way,” says Lacroix.

The closure and partial remediation of the site are estimated at $8,000 and could be carried out immediately following a final decision by City Council on Monday, April 26.

“We fully expect that the positive social implications of this closure for the Meadowgreen area and its residents will far outweigh the financial and environmental implications,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager Utilities & Environment.

Review the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot Closure report and attachments here. Updates will be shared as they become available.

Residents are encouraged to make use of the other 24/7 recycling depots throughout the city in addition to their residential curbside and multi-unit recycling bins. Alternate recycling depots are listed at saskatoon.ca/recyclingdepots.

For the 14^th consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon has won the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.

The CAnFR award, presented for the City’s 2020 Annual Report, represents a significant accomplishment for municipal government and its financial management. The award recognizes the City’s commitment to high standards and excellence in financial transparency and accountability.

“We are committed to financial transparency and openly communicating to the citizens of Saskatoon with full disclosure in our annual reporting,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “We are proud to receive this award and proud of our employees who are dedicated to making the City of Saskatoon a leader in producing high-quality financial reports year after year.”

The City’s 2020 Annual Report has been judged by impartial Canadian Review Committee members to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” designed to clearly communicate the municipality’s financial story and to motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.   

The Canadian Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAnFR) was established to encourage municipal governments across Canada to publish high-quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports.

Visit saskatoon.ca to view additional financial reports from the City of Saskatoon.

The vendor of the City’s current pay parking application (app), WayToPark, will be releasing a new app in June called Parkedin. Beginning July 1, Parkedin will officially replace WayToPark as the City’s app-based parking payment service.  

The Parkedin app will be available for public download and use starting June 1. Both WayToPark and Parkedin will be available in tandem during a transition period from June 1 to June 30, 2022.

The new Parkedin app will operate and function similar to the WayToPark app, with some additional features such as the ability to pay for parking by scanning a QR code on the nearest pay station as well as support for debit payments. 

“Our Parking Services team is looking forward to the implementation of the new app to provide an improved offering for customers and to ensure that there is no service disruption.” says Matt Grazier, Director of Community Standards. 

A report on proposed amendments to the Traffic Bylaw to facilitate usage of the new app will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Monday, April 11. 
For more information on Pay Parking, visit saskatoon.ca/payparking.

The City of Saskatoon has released its 2021 preliminary year-end financials showing a $6.54 million deficit in the civic operating programs and a $12.25 million surplus in the utility programs, before year-end audit confirmation.

Although last year brought ongoing change and uncertainty, the City remained dedicated to the delivery of core services residents rely on while continuing to find corporate-wide savings and reduce overall spending. Through the saving strategy, the City reduced training budgets and carefully examined discretionary spending to help make up for reduced revenue and other budget pressures arising from the pandemic. Fuel savings also helped reduce the deficit.

Under provincial law, municipalities are not allowed to operate with a deficit. On April 12, 2022, the City Administration will present a report to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance (7.2.4) that sets out the City’s financial strategy to offset this deficit.

“The preliminary $6.54 million deficit represents a variance of just over one per cent from the City’s overall Civic Operating Budget of $546.6 million,” says Director of Finance, Kari Smith. “Our shortfall is largely the result of snow & ice removal costs resulting from the November 2020 blizzard, higher than anticipated Information Technology costs, and lower than budgeted operating revenues. I’m confident in the well-laid financial plan and strategy Administration is recommending to address the preliminary deficit, and importantly, it won’t impact our future service delivery to residents.”

The Administration is recommending the deficit of $6.54 million be funded by:

• $3.71 million from the reallocation of Canada Community Building Funds originally put into contingency for this specific purpose;
• $1.72 million through a one-time increase from the Water Utility Return on Investment (ROI); and
• $1.11 million to be transferred from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve. 

“While the City has continued to face significant non-tax revenue challenges in user fees and our other forms of revenue have remained flat or decreased year over year, it is important to recognize that several of our businesses also achieved surpluses in 2022 including Saskatoon Light & Power and Saskatoon Water,” Smith says.

2021 Preliminary Year-end Yields Surplus Utility-Related Results

• Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P) reported a surplus of $4.49 million. 
• Saskatoon Water reported a year-end surplus of $3.63 million. 
• Wastewater Utility reported a year-end surplus of $2.74 million.
• Storm Water Management Utility reported a year-end surplus of $345,485.
• Waste Services Utility reported a year-end surplus of $1.04 million.

In addition to the utility posted surpluses:

• the Police Board was under budget by $860,000, this is included in the preliminary year-end deficit.
• SaskTel Centre and TCU Place posted preliminary deficits of $3.96 million and $3.37 million respectively, to be balanced through contributions from their facility and capital reserves. 
• Remai Modern posted a preliminary surplus of $310,526.

The City’s Financial Position Remains Future Healthy

The City’s overall and future financial standing continues to be strong and sound, having its ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating reaffirmed by S&P Global in January 2022. In planning for a bright and sustainable future, the City is committed to finding year-over-year increased operational efficiencies, creating greater savings across the organization and recovering from the financial impact of COVID-19.

The external audit of the 2021 financial statements is expected to be completed in June 2022. Following the external audit, the audited financial statements will be presented to City Council for approval.  At that time, the year-end financial results will be confirmed or adjusted based on the recommendations of the external audit and presented in the 2021 Annual Report later this year.

City Council continues to guide the City of Saskatoon’s response to COVID-19 in the community to protect the health and safety of residents and customers, following the provincial government's previous decision to lift provincial Public Health Orders.

At its meeting today, City Council considered a monthly COVID-19 update on masking in City facilities and Saskatoon Transit. Council approved a transition from a mandatory to discretionary approach for masking in City facilities. As noted in the February 8, 2022 City Council resolution, the City extended the masking requirement in City facilities beyond the expiration of the Public Health Order as a temporary measure to help transition the community to a new COVID-19 environment.

As of Monday, April 4, people accessing City facilities, including City Hall, Leisure Centres, indoor arenas, golf course buildings, indoor spaces at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo and the downtown Saskatoon Transit Customer Service Centre are no longer required to wear a face mask. Masks are welcome and will be available upon request.

Masks will continue to be required when travelling on Saskatoon Transit vehicles. Mask education will continue with riders through signage and interior and exterior audible announcements on each bus. Masks will continue to be made available to Transit customers.

The Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization continues to monitor the COVID-19 impacts on City staff and services in accordance with the COVID-19 Response Levels. A monthly update will be presented at the next meeting of City Council in April.

For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19.