The Canadian Taxpayers Federation wants Saskatoon City Council to reject any funding strategy for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District which would include new taxes.
Prairie Director, Gage Haubrich, states that the report from Administration includes a 9.5 per cent ticket tax for both a revamped and expanded convention centre and an arena, if the proposed project is approved at some point in the future.
There would also be a hotel tax, which would then hike the cost of accommodations.
Another avenue of revenue proposed is a Tax Increment Financing plan, which relies on new tax revenue from new builds in the downtown area.
However, Haubrich expects if the new tax revenue doesn’t cover the cost of the loans, taxpayers will have to pick up the bill.
City Council meets tomorrow, and the funding plan is on the agenda.