City managers told council the tax boost in this 2023 budget still gives a good deal to the taxpayers.
Supposedly, taxes on a so-called average house will still be less than combined cable and power bills.
Those $1,500 average taxes for city coffers missed a key piece. The property owners must still pay the hefty education tax levied by the province.
In the case of my partner and I, our municipal taxes last year were $1,611.09 plus a $30 infrastructure levy. But we also, paid $936 in education taxes to the province.
The city seems to have forgotten homeowners still have a pretty substantial tax burden from education taxes on property.
Our total taxes last year amounted to $2,522 on a not so substantial house.
The 4.75 per cent increase on the municipal portion will add $76.52 to the bill.
But the added $100 parks and recreation flat tax — to replace the outdoor swimming pool— adds another 6.2 per cent to the bill for a 10.95 per cent increase to city taxes.
That nearly double-digit increases doesn’t count the increases in water and sewer rates of four per cent for water and 2.4 per cent for sewer. Based on the past year’s usage that bill came to about $1,550 and will jump about $55, depending on how much water I use to grow the garden that might help offset inflation
Odd thing, I still get charged for sewage fees for the water put on the lawn and garden as if that flowed into the sewer system.
When all is accounted for, we will be paying over $4,300 property taxes and water/sewage fees.
Last year the same services cost us just over $4,127 for a 5.5 per cent increase.
The percentage increases is even less for larger newer homes. It would be immensely more fair if that $100 infrastructure levy was spread out in percentage increases to all property owners.
Doing that would make the tax load less burdensome on the “average” and below average homeowner and small business owner.
The really sad aspect about the municipal budget is that the possibility of spreading the tax load more fairly on those who can afford it was never discussed — unless it was in a closed door session.
The individuals we elected to council just went with the city management’s proposal. At this pace the city will need to find more public housing for people forced out of their homes.
Although the mayor said he was unable to review the document in advance, he said he took city administrator’s word on the matter.
Except for Dawn Luhning council has forgotten its obligation to protect the taxpayer from unfair treatment.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
