News Releases

Following another Special Budget Meeting today, City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) has further reduced the projected funding gap in the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget, with additional opportunities to shrink the gap still to come.

Through today’s decisions, the projected funding gap has been further reduced by a total of $3.15 million in 2024 and $554,000 in 2025. If left unmitigated, which is unlikely, the current funding gap would equate to a property tax increase of 7.47% in 2024 and 5.93% in 2025.

GPC completed its discussion on administration-recommended options within several business line reports at today’s meeting and recommended the following budget options be integrated into the 2024/2025 Preliminary 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget: 

• Closure of the East Compost Depot
• Reduce operating hours by one (1) hour at the end of the day at the Landfill and Material Recovery Centre
• Eliminate skunk inspection, trapping and relocation services for private residential properties
• Modify the Mosquito Control Treatment Area buffer zone to be one to two kilometres outside of city limits instead of five to ten kilometres outside of city limits
• Defer the Remai Modern Civic Buildings & Comprehensive Maintenance Reserve phase-in contribution for 2024
• Phase out of the $100,000 Interest Stabilization Support over two years 
• A $5 fee increase for Manual Tax Certificate/Tax Searches and a $10 fee increase for Online Tax Certificate/Tax Searches
• A 0.5% increase in the City’s Current and Arrears monthly Property Tax Penalty Rate in 2024
• An increase in the reduced penalty rate for parking offences from $30 to $35
• An increase in the late payment penalty rate for parking offences from $50 to $60
• An increase to the City’s Land Lease Revenue Budget to account for signed but potentially temporary lease revenue
• A 20% reduction in the program, research and design budget for Recreation and Culture
• No new FTE’s for playground & youth centre staff training
• No new FTE’s for an Outdoor Special Events Organizer
• Redirect a portion of savings ($250,000) experienced from the temporary closure of the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre in 2024 and 2025
• Reduction to the Corridor Planning Program’s Special Services operating budget
• Reduce the payroll cost (CPP, EI, Benefits, WCB, etc.) estimate by $200,000 in 2024
• Reduce the operating phase-in of the City’s SAP program by $250,000 in 2024 and 2025
• Exemption of City properties from the City storm charge for 2024 and 2025
• Reduction of  50% of the inflationary pressures to the Information Technology Reserve
• Reduce snowpile removal from parking lots at civic facilities

An additional Special Budget Meeting has been scheduled for September 20, at which time additional options that were not recommended by Administration are expected to be discussed, as well as the Utilities Business Line report. Council is also awaiting draft budget submissions from the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners and the Saskatoon Library Board.

Administration will continue to refine and adjust numbers for the budget book which will be presented at the 2024/2025 Business Plan and Budget meeting in late November.

For more facts and reliable information on the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, please visit Saskatoon.ca/budget. 

An information report to be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on September 5 details how the City successfully navigated an extraordinary emergency snow event in December 2022 with an equally extraordinary response. 

The City’s Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events was activated for the very first time on December 28, 2022, after back-to-back snow events between December 25 and 28. The snowfall resulted in over 30 centimetres of snow accumulation and severely impacted mobility on streets and sidewalks. This was in addition to four previous snow events earlier in the winter season.  

Once the response plan was activated, snow grading along all streets in Saskatoon was completed within eight days of the end of snowfall, faster than the targeted timeline of 10 days, while snow removal along Priority 2 and 3 streets was completed within 5 weeks– the fastest this work has ever been completed. All snow removal work was completed within approximately 9 weeks. 

“Our response to the late 2022 snowfall showcased our commitment to the safety and the well-being of our residents,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “The City of Saskatoon remains steadfast in its dedication to providing efficient services while adapting and improving to better serve its citizens.” 

Highlights from 2022/23 ERP activation include: 

• 102,000 truckloads of snow removed from Saskatoon streets.. 

• 1.4 million cubic metres of snow stored at the three snow management facilities at the Civic Operations Centre, along Wanuskewin Drive and Central Avenue. This is approximately four times the amount of snow stored at the snow management facilities in years leading up to 2020. 

• 500 crew days of effort to remove snow piles on local streets. 

• A typical day during snow removal included 150 haul trucks, 32 graders, 18 loaders, 4 snow blowers, 12 skid steers, 10 pilot trucks, seven dozers, 11 tow trucks and much more light equipment.  

• 27 contracting companies provided additional resources including haul trucks, loaders, snow blowers, dozers and graders. Nearly all contractors that submitted interest and pricing for local street snow removal were hired.    

“The successful handling of the significant snow events stands as a testament to the City’s commitment to meeting challenges head-on, learning from experiences and continuously improving its emergency response capabilities,” says Saric. 

The total cost of the 2022/23 emergency snow response was $18 million dollars, more than the annual operating budget for Snow and Ice Management. Nearly 90% of the cost was for the city-wide snow removal phase.  

For more information on the Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events, visit saskatoon.ca/emergency-response-plan. 

The City of Saskatoon is on track to deliver a balanced budget for 2023. The City’s 2023 Mid-Year Financial Performance Administrative Report will be presented to SPC Finance on September 6, 2023.

“In analyzing the mid-year forecast, we estimate that at the end of this fiscal year, the Administration will deliver a balanced budget for 2023,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “Our mid-year forecast is based on the most current information known to the Administration at the time of preparing this report.”

Each year, the City of Saskatoon’s Administration provides the mid-year, third-quarter and year-end reports to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance (SPC Finance) on the fiscal performance of the City’s Business Plan and Budgets. The goal of this financial reporting is to keep City Council and residents informed on the City’s financial performance as the year progresses.

Importantly, City Administration forecasts that $4.9 million will be saved through ongoing spending restrictions. These forecast savings, combined with projected underspending of $3.5 million in Snow and Ice and additional revenues of $2.5 million in Transit/Access Transit’s operating budget, are anticipated to help offset the 2023 Budget’s known financial pressures and any other forecasted shortfalls.

Details of the 2023 Budget variances are included in Appendix 1 - 2023 Year-End Projections by Business Line. Note, that the year-end figures are based on projections and estimates, and some have a high degree of volatility.

 “While these mid-year financial figures are preliminary and based on data available at this time, Administration will continue to follow existing spending restrictions to minimize the potential for a year-end deficit,” adds Smith. “We continue to tightly monitor all discretionary spending and keep to our hiring restrictions which have been in place since 2020. We will, of course, balance these measures with the need to continue providing good value in the delivery of all civic services to the residents and businesses we serve.”

Additional key information/ results from the mid-year financial reporting:

• Utilities are projecting a $5.3 million net surplus at mid-year. Any utility variance will be offset through transfers to or from the applicable stabilization reserves, if this surplus is realized, contributions will be made to the respective reserves.
• The City continues to experience inflationary impacts in 2023 including increased costs on contracts. The City can stay within budget by decreasing the amount of work to be completed.

City Administration will provide the next 2023 financial performance report through its third-quarter projections in November 2023.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget for more information on the City's multi-year budget planning process.

The City Administration will next week present a plan designed to give households more choice on what they pay for garbage collection. On Tuesday, September 5, Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services (EU&CS) will hear details on cart size options, timelines and proposed rates for the garbage utility in 2024.

As previously directed by Council, the funding source for black cart garbage services will shift from property taxes to a utility model in 2024. Three different black cart sizes will be available to eligible households with curbside collection.

“Our aim is to offer residents a range of cart sizes that align with the waste requirements of their households,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “With the success of the Green Cart Program, there is less waste in the black carts. The variable utility model means that households will have more control over their costs and only pay for the waste they actually produce.”

The cart sizes include the current large (360L) as well as a medium (240L) and a small (120L – 135L) black cart. Requests to change cart size will be accepted beginning in January 2024 with smaller black cart deliveries expected in the spring. There will be no fee for a household’s initial cart swap to allow residents sufficient time to right-size their carts.

A fixed utility rate of approximately $9.92 per month will be in place for all residents with curbside garbage collection until cart swaps are completed. The variable utility fees will not be implemented until mid-year following cart swaps. The proposed monthly utility rates for black cart services are approximately as follows: small (120 L – 135L) cart - $3.73, medium (240 L) - $7.05 and large (360 L) - $10.58 and can be seen here. A process for property managers and condo boards to manage bulk requests is being developed.

If Administration's recommendations are endorsed by Committee, they will be formally approved by City Council at its meeting on September 27.

The variable cart options will increase residents’ control over their costs and encourages reduction of waste by providing financial incentives for waste diversion. Communities that use similar approaches have seen their waste di­­version rates increase by 5-17%, as residents improve their use of diversion programs and find new ways to reduce their general waste generation.

Program details for the $100 per year low-income Waste Utility Subsidy will also be included in a separate report presented at EU&CS.

Garbage collection will remain bi-weekly year-round. To view your collection calendar, visit saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or download the Saskatoon Waste Wizard app.  

The City of Saskatoon celebrated the addition of two new dog parks dedicated for small dogs with a ceremonial opening event at the new Charlottetown Dog Park.

Charlottetown Dog Park is a near one acre space located behind Cosmo Civic Centre and features naturalized elements including mature shade trees, dual-gate entry to help avoid accidental escapes and concrete entryway pads to prevent soil erosion.

In addition to the development of Charlottetown Dog Park, Hyde Dog Park in Saskatoon’s southeast now features two separate off-leash areas, one new space dedicated for small dogs in addition to the original Dog Park which is open to dogs of all sizes.

“Animal Services has received numerous requests over the years for dedicated areas for small dogs to enjoy off-leash activities,” says Brad Babyak, Recreation Services Manager, Open Space Programming & Development. “Implementation of these dedicated spaces will help prevent potential unnecessary conflict between small and large dogs and improve safety for owners and their pets.”

“It is great to see small dogs bring out their owners to explore and enjoy the newly developed spaces at Charlottetown and Hyde Dog Parks,” says Babyak.

Dogs must be under both the height and weight restrictions to be permitted in the new Dog Parks dedicated for small dogs. Pups that are taller than 40 cm at the shoulder and over 9 kg are free to enjoy any of the other 11 Dog Parks throughout the city that are available for dogs of all sizes.

For more information visit saskatoon.ca/dogparks.