Nearly one in every $20 of city property taxes in arrears

Property tax arrears for the first nine months of the year have increased by 51 per cent over one year.

Third quarter city finance reports to city council show arrears as of Sept. 30 had climbed to $1.291 million from $854,000 one year ago.

In September of 2016, arrears amounted to $754,000.

Less than 10 per cent of current arrears involve a payment plan where the property owners have agreed to pay arrears. The city estimates 2018 collection of property taxes at $27.15 million, placing current arrears at 4.7 per cent of the tax levy — nearly one in every $20.

••• According to the quarterly reports Yara Centre has earned $126,000 before a city subsidy of $87,000.

Mosaic Place lost $114,000 before a $216,000 city subsidy. The city has a $401,000 subsidy planned for the combined facilities in 2018.

••• Revenues from all categories of passengers on the city transit system, except adults, are down.

Revenues from fares and advertising of $188,696 met only 16 per cent of operating costs and required a $706,000 subsidy for the first nine months of the year’ Ridership barely changed with 16,023 riders, a decline of 333, or two, per cent. Transit expenses increased 55 per cent by $410,000 to $1.54 million Largest expense increase was $328,000 for administration. ••• Increased city water rates raised nearly $1 million from taxpayers in the first nine months of this year.

Fifteen per cent water fee increases raised $5.6 million – an increase of 13.7 per cent.

Cost of water production increased 30 per cent to $2.17 million while distribution costs increased 27 per cent to almost $3.3 million.

The water reserves increased by almost $1.3 million. The city plans on obtaining just over $2 million reserves on $10.4 million revenues for the full year.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net