Mixed reaction to proposed property tax hike

SASKATOON – Residents are reacting to a proposal by the City of Saskatoon to raise property taxes to fix crumbling roads.

Some are more than happy to pay if it means better roads but others say the city has botched its finances and has had its priorities wrong.

Most agree roads need fixing but what’s dividing the community is how to pay for them.

In a poll done by Global Saskatoon, 74 per cent of viewers did not want to pay more in property taxes even if it meant better roads.

City administration has proposed either increasing property taxes by almost three per cent a year for the next three years or introducing a base tax increase across the board of $170 a year over the same period.

“It is pretty significant and they have to make sure that taxpayers can afford it and those taxpayers’ incomes are going up by that amount too and if they’re not then they have to rethink that tax increase,” said Colin Craig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Councillor Darren Hill says Saskatoon has fairly low property taxes.

“Saying that we have the second lowest property taxes of like-size cities across Canada sounds great but if that’s at the loss of maintaining our roads I don’t think that’s a good thing to be saying,” said Hill.

Hill also says he wants to know exactly how the extra money would be spent.

“The citizens of Saskatoon want to know that we’re using the money wisely and quite honestly I’m not confident we are until I see an accompanying report and making sure we’re using the best technology.”

Administration is suggesting increasing the street sweeping budget by $605,000, spending over $1 million more fixing pot holes, increasing crew numbers and $500,000 more on snow removal.

One part of the plan that is yet to be worked out is how neighbourhood road repairs will be prioritized.

Mayor Don Atchison says that’s something council will also have to discuss but he has a few ideas.

“On our website we should in fact say these are the following streets that are going to be looked after this coming year and that people know which ones are going to be fixed, there’s nothing worse than having false hope and expectations that yeah your streets going to get fixed this year and it doesn’t occur,” said Atchison.

“That’s where the frustration comes from so by putting a list out on an annual basis and in advance people have a far better idea of what to expect and by the same token it certainly holds council’s feet to the fire,” he added.

The plan is due to go before council on August 14.