NUMBERS THAT MATTER

Here are some of the key numbers from the City of Saskatoon’s preliminary two-year budget, which was made public Wednesday:

3.23%

The proposed property tax increase for 2020; followed by 3.54 per cent in 2021

$60.95

The cost of the increase for a home assessed at $371,000; followed by $66.83 in 2021

58.8

Number of new city employees in 2020 budget, followed by 40.5 in 2021

3,995.9

Number of full-time city employees, including library, by 2021

58%

Percentage of city’s budget that goes to staff compensation

48.1%

Portion of operating budget paid for through property taxes in 2020; followed by 48.5 per cent in 2021

56%

Portion of total property tax bill that pays for city services, followed by 38 per cent for education (province) and six per cent for library

$1.29B

The city’s total budget, including operating, utilities and capital spending, in 2020; followed by $1.23 billion in 2021

$152.9M

Proposed cost of new downtown library

$87.5M

Proposed borrowing to pay for construction of new library

20.68%

Portion of the city’s operating budget in 2020 for policing (or $109.6 million); increasing to 20.78 per cent in 2021 (or $113.97 million)

5%

Portion spent on parks 3%

Portion spend on garbage and waste reduction

4.6%

Proposed increase in Saskatoon Light & Power rates in 2020; followed by 4.15 per cent in 2021

4.1%

Proposed increase in water/waste water rates in 2020; followed by 3.9 per cent in 2021

9.25%

Water/waste water increase in 2019

$2.25

Proposed increase for Nutrien Playland admission in 2020, up from $2

50

cents

Proposed increases for adult daily admission to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo for both 2020 and 2021

0

Proposed increase to Saskatoon Transit bus fares and recreation centre passes over the next two years

$31.5M

Amount earmarked for roadway and sidewalk paving and preservation in 2020; followed by $31.8 million in 2021

$524.7M

Operating budget in 2020; followed by $542.4 million in 2021

$390.8M

Capital spending in 2020; followed by $293.5 million in 2021

2009

The last time a property tax increase was lower than those proposed for the next two years

$354M

City debt as of Dec. 31, 2018

$197.7M

City’s projected reserve funds as of Jan. 1, 2020