Most homeowners should expect to pay an extra $121.80 in property taxes next year, or $10.15 a month, based on the recently approved budget.
City council voted 6-1 to approve the budget — composed of the 2020 operating budget, 2020 to 2024 capital budgets and 2020 to 2024 equipment reserve budgets — during a special council meeting on Dec. 11. The budget includes a property tax hike of 2.30 per cent that will generate an extra $679,479.80 in revenue, an increase in water of six per cent and an increase in sewer of five per cent.
Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
All increases in property taxes are based on an average assessed single-family dwelling worth $246,000, or on property owners who pay $1,480 a year in municipal taxes.
Municipal taxes
The effect in additional municipal taxes will be:
- 1.30 per cent for the operating budget: $1.59 per month or $19.08 a year
- One per cent for the general capital budget, specifically, to support maintenance projects in the parks and recreation department: $1.22 per month or $14.64 a year
- Infrastructure levy: $1.25 per month or $15 a year
In total, the average property owner will pay an extra $4.06 per month or $48.72 per year in municipal taxes next year, which represents an increase of 3.29 per cent over this year.
Utility costs
For most homeowners who pay $725 annually in water utility costs, they will pay an extra $3.64 per month or $43.68 per year. Homeowners who pay $590 annually in sanitary sewer utility costs will pay an extra $2.45 per month or $29.40 per year.
In total, the average property owner will pay an extra $6.09 per month or $73.08 per year in water and sewer costs.
Combined, the increase in municipal taxes and utility costs will be $121.80 next year, which represents an increase over this year of 4.07 per cent based on $2,995 in yearly municipal, water, sewer and solid waste costs.
Mayor speaks
This is the first time the City of Moose Jaw has approved a budget prior to the start of the new budget year.
“We’re very proud of this accomplishment,” Mayor Fraser Tolmie said in a news release. “We stuck to the budget principles that were approved earlier this year, which included living within our means and finalizing the budget prior to the start of the new year. Additionally, we are able to provide a number of benefits to Moose Jaw residents with the 2.30 per cent property tax increase.”
Operating budget projects
The 1.30 per cent operating budget increase — that ensures no service cuts — adds several projects for next year, such as:
- Enhanced urban forestry program for $60,035
- An additional peace officer for about $100,000
- Updated and upgraded information technology, including a new website and phone app
- Concrete and asphalt crushing for $179,200
- Grants to the Cosmo Senior Citizens Association of $15,000 and Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association of $35,000 to assist with annual operations
- Economic development initiatives for $30,000
- Support to the Southeast Industrial Park development
- Support for SaskPower’s 750-megawatt power station in the industrial park
- Two 100-kilowatt solar projects for $1.2 million
- 3.6 million for roadway paving
- Upgrades to the Kinsmen Sportsplex for $425,000
The Moose Jaw Police Service will receive an operating grant of $10.1 million, while the Moose Jaw Public Library will receive $1,192,223, which represents an increase of 0.16 per cent over this year.
The one-per-cent increase in the operating budget will support the maintenance of city buildings and recreation department capital projects. Some projects include:
- Upgrades to the Pla-Mor Palace change rooms for $109,000
- Irrigation upgrades to the Iron Bridge subdivision for $51,000
- Upgraded lighting at the cultural centre for $80,000
A $15 levy was applied in the past to help fund the new hospital. That levy has now been increased to $30 per year and renamed the infrastructure levy to support the cast iron reserve fund. This is one part of the increased funding that will allow the municipality to spend $9.1 million on the cast iron water main replacement program next year and in 2021.
Water, sewer projects
The water and sewer utility budget feature projects such as:
- A second in-house construction crew to address a backlog of repairs and support water main replacements for $597,000
- A new reservoir project for $16 million
- Repairs to the fluoridation system of $1.2 million
- Sanitary sewer upgrades of $1.8 million
The Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com will continue to publish followup stories from the budget meetings that look at some issues city council discussed.
