Total property tax arrears have increased by nearly 80 per cent during the last three years, according to a fourth-quarter financial report from city administration.
Total arrears by Dec. 31, 2019 were $1,050,698, which was composed of $933,213 in liens and $117,485 in arrears payment plans.
Meanwhile, total arrears by Dec. 31, 2018 were $934,059 ($855,296 in liens and $78,763 in payment plans) and by Dec. 31, 2017 were $591,111 ($536,166 in liens and $54,945 in payment plans).
Property taxes receivable
Property tax receivable consists of tax arrears and taxes owing. Tax arrears are taxes that are overdue, while current taxes are due but have not fallen into arrears. Taxes fall into arrears in the next year following the levy of taxes.
The total amount of receivable property taxes outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2019 was $2.9 million, of which $1.92 million was current taxes owing and $1.05 million was arrears. In comparison, total property taxes receivable that were outstanding in 2018 were $3.02 million, $2.59 million in 2017, $2.2 million in 2016, $1.9 million in 2015 and $1.7 million in 2014.
Mosaic Place
Spectra Venue Management Services, which is now managing Mosaic Place, provided a financial statement for the period Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2019.
During those two months, there were 16 events that brought in 13,116 people for total gross revenue of $77,843. After promoter proceeds were considered, that left an event operating income of $46,153.
Total indirect expenses — such as administration, operations and overhead — were $194,966, leaving a deficit of $148,813. After other income was considered, and excluding the management fee of $16,940, the net operating loss for those two months was $60,944. The total net operating loss from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2019 was $105,355.
Financial condition indicators
By Dec. 31, 2019, the municipality had received 100.9 per cent of its budgeted taxes, compared to 97.7 per cent by Dec. 31, 2018, according to the report.
Long-term debt per capita was $1,745.94 per person by Q4 2019, compared to $1,879.38 per person in Q4 2018. Meanwhile, debt as a percentage of the debt limit was 62.3 per cent in Q4 2019 compared to 67 per cent in Q4 2018.
Status of capital projects
Eight capital projects were considered to be in jeopardy for completion, the report said.
Delays were experienced in mechanical upgrades to the municipal complex on High Street West, since obtaining tender-ready drawings was proving difficult. Phase 1 of this project is expected to be tendered and started this year.
Repairs to catch basins attached to a storm sewer project have been deferred to this spring for completion.
The replacement of sprinkler heads at parks throughout Moose Jaw is only 25 per cent complete, while the construction of a retaining wall at Ross Wells Park was only five per cent complete. These projects are expected to be finished by September.
The development of pathways in the community will occur later this year once the Trails Master Plan is adopted.
The LED lighting project at city hall is expected to be completed by the end of February, while the elevator modernization project is expected to be finished by March.
Renovations to the Smith Park building are on hold — but will be completed this year — until the final decision is made on the location for the joint-use school. Meanwhile, projects to upgrade the Kinsmen Sportsplex Arena will be completed this year. City administration had been waiting for final confirmation from the provincial government about using federal Gas Tax funding for these upgrades.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 24.
