During Tuesday’s City of Saskatoon budget deliberations, Council heard about what the cost will be to homeowners when waste becomes a utility as opposed to being part of the property tax.
General Manager of Utilities and Environment, Angela Gardiner estimates next year’s mill rate would be reduced by 0.91 per cent and by 1.3 per cent in 2023.
When the city-wide organics program is introduced in 2023, it’s expected to it the cost per household for the program will be about $6.73 per month or $80.75 per year.
Considering the reductions in the mill rate, Gardiner says that would be an overall decrease of just over $6 per year. Multi-family properties would see a decrease of around $41 and the average industrial cost for waste programs would go down by about $496. City Council passed the Utilities section of the budget with Councillors Bev Dubois and Darren Hill opposed.
Also on the agenda on Tuesday, was the Fire Department’s budget. Chief Morgan Hackl asked for five Full Time Equivalent positions to be hired in the middle of next year to relieve some of the overtime pressures.
He explains that the number of calls they get each year is increasing. The total for this year will be around 20,000 calls for service.
As a comparison, the Fire Department’s overtime was $452,000 and this year it will exceed $1-million.
Hackl adds that about half the calls for service are on West side and the City is in need of a third station to handle the number of calls.
He expects these five positions could be part of a graduated approach to building up experienced staffing in anticipation of a new Fire Station on the West side in the future. Council unanimously passed the Fire Department’s budget proposal.
Although nothing can be done immediately during the City of Saskatoon’s budget deliberations the Manager of Community Services told Council members they are looking at ways to help the Saskatoon SPCA.
The animal shelter told City Council on Monday they may have to close their doors in a year if they don’t receive emergency funding from the City. They are looking for $50,000 a month over the next few months.
Lynn Lacroix says they still have two years on a five year agreement with the Saskatoon SPCA. The City’s connection to the Association is through pound services, which covers the first four days of an animal’s stay.
Lacroix says right now the City doesn’t have any additional funding sources. Instead, what they can do is work with them to figure out some options on how to reduce expenditures related to pound services, for instance, reducing the number of hours it is open.
City Administration has contacted the SPCA and conversations will continue. Lacroix hopes Council could hear some options by February.
(ct Nov30 21)
