If no further savings were found, the tax increase in 2024 would be 8.54 per cent in Saskatoon and 6.04 per cent in 2025.

Decisions made to date at special budget meetings has reduced the funding gap by a total of $25.8 million in 2024 and $2.3 million in 2025. City Council’s special budget meeting Tuesday helped shave an additional $1.1 million off the funding gap for 2024.

Some of the ways they are doing that include expanding Parking Pay Stations in approximately 130 additional on-street parking spaces within the Warehouse District and Center Industrial areas. Pet licenses will go up 10 per cent, rates and fees for cemetery services will go up three per cent. Another special budget meeting is set for August 31st.

Decisions made at the Tuesday August 15 Special Budget Meeting:

-No inflationary increase for line painting and sign replacement materials

-Reduce the sweeping of soft surface (turf) medians to once every 2 years

-An expansion of the Parking Pay Station Zone to incorporate approximately 130 additional on-street parking spaces within the Warehouse District and Center Industrial areas

-An additional rate increase of 10 per cent for all pet licensing

-An additional rate increase of 3 per cent for the rates and fees for cemetery services

-Reduction to the contribution to the special events reserve in 2024 and 2025

-No increases and maintain the same level of funding for grants and community organization support

-Defer the addition of a Fire Services Asset Management staff position until 2025

-Remove the addition of a permanent Communications Consultant position within Saskatoon Fire Department

-Defer the addition of a dedicated Operations Dispatch Manager position until mid-way through 2024