SaskatoonPopulation growth and inflation are combining to drive the big increases, which represent an estimate of the revenue needed just to maintain city services, the city’s chief financial officer, Clae Hack, told reporters at city hall Thursday. Largest property tax increase in history looms, with 5.96 per cent to follow in 2027Phil Tank · CBC News · Posted: Nov 06, 2025 5:00 PM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.City of Saskatoon chief financial officer Clae Hack unveils the preliminary budget at city hall on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)Saskatoon is still staring down the largest property tax increase in city history.The hike has been whittled back from the 9.9 per cent (2026) and 7.34 per cent (2027) preliminary increases released in June, but it’s still historically high at 8.23 per cent for next year and 5.95 per cent in 2027.The previous high mark came in 2014. That year, council increased taxes by 7.43 per cent when a special levy to repair roads was introduced. That’s believed to be the largest increase to the city’s portion of property taxes, according to city archivist Jeff O’Brien.Population growth and inflation are combining to drive the big increases, which represent an estimate of the revenue needed just to maintain city services, the city’s chief financial officer, Clae Hack, told reporters at city hall on Thursday.“In terms of growth, from 2022 to 2024, our city added 25,000 people, more than the populations of Yorkton and Humboldt combined,” Hack said. “And we expect another 9,000 new residents in 2025.“With that growth, we need more buses, more maintenance for our growing road network and more fire halls to maintain our service levels.”In both years, the largest driver of the tax increases is policing costs. The $12.5 million increase next year accounts for nearly a third of the city’s total spending increase, and the $9.8 million increase in 2027 represents nearly a quarter of new spending.Saskatoon police are asking for an 8.62 per cent rise next year, which is down from the original estimate, followed by 6.16 per cent in 2027.Crime in declineThe request from police comes even though crime declined in Saskatoon from 9,814 criminal code violations per 100,000 people in 2023 to 8,784 last year — the lowest per capita number since 8,141 in 2020. Violent crime, however, rose slightly to 1,555 incidents last year from 1,506 in 2023.The other big drivers of the city’s budget increase include the fire department, roadways and bridges, transit and snow and ice management.Total spending on both operating costs and capital projects soars to $1.7 billion in both years, up from $1.5 billion this year.WATCH | Sask. property owners got their latest reassessment values this year:Sask. property owners to receive latest reassessment values soonThe revaluation process happens every four years and ensures a property’s value for tax purposes reflects the real estate market.The budget as it exists prior to council’s final decision would add 98 new full-time employees to the city’s payroll next year, and 95 more in 2027. Those numbers include 49 new police employees over the two years and 14 new library positions.City council will debate the budget starting on Nov. 25. Hack said council will be presented with more than 100 options to reduce spending that could cut the tax hike to as low as five per cent next year. For an average single-family home assessed at $394,200, the preliminary budget would translate to a property tax increase of $194.45 next year and $152.02 in 2027.The preliminary budget does not include certain spending, like the city’s affordable housing plan, which is estimated to cost $8.6 million and require a further 1.3 per cent tax increase. A potential plan to add dedicated transit police that was just approved for consideration during budget talks would cost an extra $1.6 million.Hack said council is also expected to receive a report that will detail the degree to which downloaded responsibilities from higher levels of government is increasing costs for city hall.“It certainly creates new and emerging challenges that we’ve had to deal with, whether it be school sites or social issues we haven’t historically been part of,” Hack said.Rookies to debate budgetSix councillors will be deliberating on a two-year budget for the first time later this month; this will also be Mayor Cynthia Block’s first time overseeing budget talks..Saskatoon Light and Power rates are expected to increase three per cent, contingent on what SaskPower decides, and water rates are expected to jump by about five per cent each year.The city is also embarking on one of the largest capital projects in its history with improvements to and expansion of the water treatment plant, which is expected to cost $75 million next year and $116.7 million in 2027.A city hall comparison between the 11 largest cities in Western Canada shows Saskatoon has the second-lowest property taxes for city operations for a median single-family home, at $2,618. Only Winnipeg is lower at $2,475.ABOUT THE AUTHORPhil Tank is a journalist in Saskatoon.
Revised Saskatoon budget pitches 8.23 per cent tax hike
