City council has approved the 2024 budget and landed on a municipal tax increase of 7.6 per cent, which some members described as “unpalatable” and likely to make life difficult for residents.
During a special budget meeting on Dec. 18, council 4-3 to approve the 2024 operating budget and 2024-28 capital and equipment reserve budgets as amended, while it authorized city administration to tender and award the capital and equipment purchases — including a new fire truck — set out for next year in those reserve budget schedules.
In favour were Mayor Clive Tolley and councillors Jamey Logan, Doug Blanc and Heather Eby. Opposed were councillors Kim Robinson, Crystal Froese and Dawn Luhning.
From the pocket, most taxpayers will likely shell out an extra $16.57 per month or $198.97 for the year based on this budget.
Meanwhile, council also approved the use of $3 million from the offsite levy fund to support the Crescent View Lift Station wastewater project.
Furthermore, council voted to increase the waterworks utility rates by four per cent and sanitary sewer utility rates by four per cent.
Also, city hall will continue to impose an annual waterworks infrastructure levy of $100 per taxable property for all property classes, except for multi-unit classes, which will have a levy of $100 on each dwelling unit within that multi-unit building.
Lastly, city hall will continue to impose the parks and recreation infrastructure levy of $65 per taxable property for all classes, except for multi-unit classes, which will have a levy of $65 on each dwelling unit within that multi-unit building.
This levy — to support renewing all recreation venues and the new outdoor pool — is expected to generate $1,093,040.
The mill rate hike includes the municipal property tax increase of 4.66 per cent and an increase of 2.09 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service.
Both of those combined add an extra $9.62 per month or $115.43 per year onto homeowners’ bills. Separately, the municipal tax increase is an extra $6.64 per month or $79.69 per year and the police service increase is an extra $2.98 per month or $35.74 per year.
This mill rate increase is expected to generate an additional $2,679,622 for the city’s operating budget next year. This includes covering the opening budget shortfall of $1,454,462 and budget changes of $1,225,160.
One percentage point of municipal taxation next year will be $352,448.77.
The waterworks increase will add an extra $2.98 per month or $35.76 for the year to taxpayers’ bills, while the sanitary sewer increase will add an additional $2.37 per month or $28.44 for the year to bills.
For most utility customers, this amounts to an extra $5.35 per month or $64.20 per year for both utilities.
Further, solid waste garbage collection will increase 30 cents per month or $3.60 annually, while recycling fees will increase by nine cents per month or $1.08 annually. Together, that means most taxpayers will pay an extra 39 cents per month or $4.68 for the year — along with an increase in landfill tipping fees when they use that venue.
Also, the Events Centre’s operating budget subsidy of $1,197,000 will add an extra $1.21 per month or $14.56 per year to taxpayers’ bills.
While most taxpayers will likely shell out an extra $16.57 per month or $198.97 for the year, homeowners are still paying $100 per year for the water infrastructure levy and $65 for the parks and rec levy. Adding those in means taxpayers will face an extra $30.32 per month or $363.97 for the year.
The Moose Jaw Express will feature more stories about council’s deliberations about the 2024 budget.
