Saskatoon councillors wrestle with proposed 3.95 per cent tax hike

Saskatoon's civic administration is proposing a 3.95 per cent property tax increase for 2016.

The proposal mustbe approved bycity council.

If passed, it would translate into an average $5.40-per-month hike on the tax bill for a house assessed at $325,000.

Senior city officials gave a breakdown of the budget this morning. Almost half of the proposed increase would go toward road rehabilitation and maintenance. The next biggest slice would go toward the police.

The department wants to add eight officers next year, four in January and then four in the summer.

The overall operating budget is projected to rise $22.5 million, to $457.1 million. Capital spending is pegged at $177 million.

This year, the city invited members of the public to weigh in on the process through a budget survey. City manager Murray Totland said most of the participants "prefer to balance the budget using a combination of user fees and property tax increases instead of service reductions and cuts."

Starting today, people in Saskatoon can share what they think this year's budget should look likethrough a special websitecalled Citizen Budget. The site will be up until November 13.

Councillors will spend the next six weeks going over the proposed budget.

Then they sit down November 1, December 1 and 3 to whether the proposed tax hike passes, or is reduced.