Combined tax hike next year to be 3.63 per cent, council decides

City council has hammered out the 2021 budget and passed what it believes is a “responsible increase” that combines the mill rate and utility rates into an overall increase of 3.63 per cent.

An “average single-family” residence with a property value of $259,866 paid $2,976.59 in taxes this year, but based on the combined increase for next year, that same residence will pay $3,084.67. This means the average taxpayer will pay an extra $108.08 per year or $9.01 per month overall.

Specifically, the municipal tax increase will be 2.96 per cent. This includes 1.1 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service, one per cent for projects in the parks and recreation department, and 0.86 per cent for municipal services.

The average single-family home’s property tax will increase to $1,517.33 next year from $1,473.71 this year. This means that residents will pay an extra $43.62 per year or $3.64 per month in municipal taxes.

The infrastructure levy — which supports the cast iron water main replacement program — will increase to $65 next year from $30 this year. This means the average taxpayer will pay an additional $35 per year or $2.92 per month.

On the utility side, water and sewer rates both increase by two per cent effective Feb. 1, 2021.

With water, the average residence will pay $833.91 next year compared to $817.56 this year. This is an extra $16.35 per year or $1.36 per month.

With sewer, that residence will pay $668.43 next year compared to $655.32 this year. This is an extra $13.11 per year or $1.09 per month.

In total, the average taxpayer will pay $29.46 per year or $2.45 per month in combined utilities.

During the Dec. 21 budget meeting, council voted unanimously to approve the 2021 operating budget and the 2021-25 capital and equipment reserve budgets; to authorize city administration to tender and award the capital and equipment purchases in those budgets for next year; and to submit a municipal tax increase of 2.96 per cent that will generate $873,241 for the City of Moose Jaw..

Council voted 5-2 to set the water utility rate at two per cent and voted 5-2 to set the sanitary sewer utility rate at two per cent.

Councillors Crystal Froese and Dawn Luhning were both opposed to those motions.

Council unanimously approved a motion to set the infrastructure levy at $65 per taxable property and that the funds be dedicated to funding the cast iron program.

Council also unanimously approved a motion to designate the S-4 lift stations capital project as the 2021 municipal gas tax-funded program.

The Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com will have more comprehensive coverage about the discussions during the final budget meeting and other items in the budgets in the days ahead.