City council agreed that residents probably won’t like a tax hike next year of 5.45 per cent but pointed out there are some good projects to satisfy most people.
During the Dec. 15 budget meeting, council voted 6-1 — Coun. Dawn Luhning was opposed — to approve the 2022 operating, capital and equipment reserve budgets. The increase includes a mill rate hike of 3.84 per cent for municipal programs and services and 1.61 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service.
The mill rate increase means taxpayers will pay an extra $81.12 per year on their property bills in 2022. With the increase in the mill rate, water and sewer utilities, and infrastructure levy, taxpayers will pay an extra $161.24 in total on their bills.
Council discussion
There are good initiatives in the budget, some of which residents will see daily and some they won’t see that will contribute to the increase, said Luhning. Meanwhile, council decided against enhancing snow removal or moving to weekly garbage pickup year-round, which are important to people.
“I am not in favour of some things in there because I don’t think they are a priority for us right now,” she continued, adding she didn’t think council worked hard enough to find savings in the budget, while the 5.45-per-cent tax increase was “a little rich for my blood.”
Council won’t be popular with this budget, but even if it reduced the mill rate to three per cent, there would still be disappointed people, said Coun. Kim Robinson. While there are things in the budget he does not like, he pointed out that council collectively is passing the budget.
“I really believe that if we deliver what we say we’re going to deliver, then people won’t worry about paying an extra ($81.12 per year via the mill rate increase),” he added.
This budget is worth supporting and there are many projects residents will appreciate, such as the humane society’s spay and neuter program, new pickleball courts, a new transit route to Yara Centre and weekly garbage pickup in October, said Coun. Heather Eby.
No one will jump for joy at 5.45 per cent and residents will likely verbally beat up council, but the increase “is in the ballpark” and supports the community, she added.
This budget provides “strong direction” as council moves through uncertain times during the pandemic, said Coun. Crystal Froese. Council kept the mill rate under four per cent, while the police will receive needed funding for their work.
There are many initiatives that residents expect council to pursue, such as economic development, infrastructure enhancement, and water security, she continued. She accepted the overall budget increase, even though she wasn’t “super-duper excited about it.”
“I still carry the weight of the fact that people are struggling. So, every penny counts,” Froese added.
Council members will probably lose sleep and wonder if they could have done things differently, but they should remember that they approved many projects that will benefit the future, said Coun. Jamey Logan. After all, the goal is to attract people to Moose Jaw to improve the community and have more taxpayers.
Mayor Clive Tolley thought the tax hike was acceptable, considering the increase in 2020 was zero and this year was 1.86 per cent. This decision was necessary to ensure council didn’t have to play catch-up each year.
“I believe we’re still paying for the fact there was zero-per-cent increases for a long time in this city,” he added.
Coun. Doug Blanc agreed with his colleagues, pointing out people pay more for gasoline and phone, TV and internet bills than they will with this tax hike.
