Saskatoon’s new Council will consider an adjusted budget for 2021 next Tuesday and Wednesday, with Administration proposing ways to absorb some of the pandemic costs without having to increase the previously approved property tax rate of 3.87 per cent.
For the average homeowner with a property assessment value of $371,000, that works out to an extra $6.31 a month.
Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Tarasoff, says the increase cost is $21.76-million, mostly because of the pandemic.
A large portion will be covered by federal funding of just over $19-million through the Safe Restart Agreement.
Administration has also found about $2.7-million in savings, including fuel savings with lower gas prices and lower power bills.
Tarasoff says they are hedging on the positive side when it comes to planning some of the expenses, for instance the snow and ice program.
If passed, the budget would also include cutting training and travel expenses and putting in a discretionary hiring restriction.
If the expenses surpass the budget, Tarasoff says some money could be taken out of the reserves.
Nothing is set in stone until it is passed by Council.
Something that was added to the budget was an additional $412,500 for five new Saskatoon Police Service special constable positions and another $176,000 to their capital program.