Saskatoon’s city council will hold the first of three summer budget meetings today to address the projected shortfall in 2024 and 2025.  The City is projecting a $52.4 million shortfall next year and $23.2 million the following year.

Saskatoon’s chief financial officer Clae Hack told the Governance and Priorities committee meeting last week that inflation was the largest pressure facing the city heading into 2024.

He says amid rising costs additional investment would be needed for roadway, facility maintenance and fire apparatus costs. Hack says the most significant pressure is the projected 10.2-million-dollar requirement for the city’s roadway preservation program to maintain the one in 20-year treatment cycle in the midst of 30-per cent plus inflationary increases in contracts. Hack says nearly 57 per cent of the budget goes to Police, Transport, Fire, and Transit.