Saskatoon City Council’s Missteps
Over the last several years, Saskatoon’s City Council has made a series of costly decisions that have burdened taxpayers without delivering adequate results. As we approach the upcoming election, it’s essential to highlight some of the key areas where the current council has fallen short. Here are the most significant issues impacting our city:
1. Skyrocketing Taxes and Spending
Since 2019, city spending has increased by 23%, while taxes have risen by 27%. These hikes come with little improvement in core services.
Property taxes in Saskatoon are now among the highest rates in Canada, with a recent 6.2% hike not including new garbage collection fees, resulting in a total tax increase of 12%.
Despite these increases, a $10.9 million budget surplus was discovered after council had already approved further tax hikes, raising questions about fiscal management.
2. Mismanagement of City Projects
The new Downtown Library project has ballooned from an initial budget of $67 million in 2019 to a projected cost of $190 million today, more than double the original estimate.
The City has funnelled millions into projects like the bike lanes, with over $20 million spent so far. These initiatives have been met with public concern and a growing budget deficit.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has faced similar challenges, with the council awarding a $295,000+ contract to a Vancouver-based company raising concerns about local job creation and transparency.
3. Public Safety and Crime
Saskatoon continues to struggle with rising crime rates, recently listed as having one of the highest crime severity indexes in the country. Despite a budget increase of $8 million for policing, many residents feel that public safety improvements are not proportional to the spending increases.
4. Wasteful Spending
City Council has spent millions on projects that raise questions about priorities, including $100,000 on decorative lights for a back alley and salaries for 12 compost auditors and dog trainers, while other essential services are neglected.
In addition, City Council is buying electric buses that cost $400,000 more than diesel models, with concerns about their long-term viability and efficiency and battery ranges of only 300km.
We want a better future for our City, and we know you do too.
Here is How You Can Help Right Now:
Donate: Our efforts in transparency, outreach, advertising, and advocacy come with an expense. If you want us to keep the momentum, we need your help.
Spread the Word: Share our progress with your friends, family, and neighbours. The more people who are engaged, the greater our collective impact will be.
Get Involved: Attend candidate town halls, ask the important questions, and help us ensure we elect leaders who represent all of Saskatoon.
Saskatoon needs fiscally responsible leaders who will focus on public safety, infrastructure, and sound governance—without burdening taxpayers with reckless spending. It’s time to vote for common sense and accountability.
Let’s make Saskatoon Better Together.
