Moose Jaw property taxes among lowest of Saskatchewan’s 14 cities: survey

Ron Walter breaks down the municipal taxation rates in Saskatchewan

Bizworld by Ron Walter

A Canadian Taxpayers Federation survey of municipal taxation has upset the mayor of Swift Current.

The survey shows per capita spending by the City of Swift Current in 2019 was the highest of medium-sized cities in the province.

The average spend of $3,728 was $963 higher than in the next closest city — Yorkton.

Swift Current Mayor Greg Haubrich pointed out that removing the money the city-owned electric utility bills taxpayers would put the average spending to just over $2,500 per person.

The survey shows that average per capita spending is not an accurate guide of how much taxpayers fork over or get in services.

This kind of raw data doesn’t take into account differences such as the revenues from city-owned utilities. Nor does it account for the level of services provided, or regional wage and cost differences for staff and by suppliers.

Moose Jaw spent an average $2,201 in 2019 with Prince Albert at $2,4531.

Comparing 14 cities shows the Friendly City’s spending was the fourth lowest of Saskatchewan cities.

That perhaps explains the terrible condition of our roads, among other needs in this city. Lower spending usually translates into lower levels of service.

Research for this column came across an interesting table of tax increases compiled by the City of Prince Albert. Property tax increases between 2015 and 2018 varied but Moose Jaw’s cumulative tax increase was fifth highest of Saskatchewan's cities.

Property taxes increased 19 per cent over these four years in Moose Jaw.

Yorkton and Melville were tied for highest increase at 23 per cent. Prince Albert was lowest at 5.59 per cent.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation survey found the average spend by six cities not including Moose Jaw or Prince Albert was $2,482 in 2019, a five per cent hike from the previous year.

Average spending per capita by towns was $2,164. None of the towns in this region made the top five spenders. Biggest spender was Kerrobert at $3,038 per person.

Among rural municipalities, the per capita spend in 2019 was $4,620 with a high of $17,000 in the RM of Oakdale at Coleville and RM of Heart’s Hill at Luseland.

2019 per capita spending