Preliminary police, library budgets presented to Saskatoon council

As the City of Saskatoon works to tackle massive budget gaps for 2024 and 2025, the Saskatoon Public Library and Saskatoon Police Service unveiled their preliminary budgets.

The Saskatoon Police Service is requesting a 6.74-per-cent increase in its initially proposed budget, which would bring its funding up to $121 million.

The increases include adding four more police officers to respond to a large number of calls.

The police service also wants to add three community mobilization unit officers, who would be responsible for maintaining service in neighbourhoods which have specific challenges related to drug addictions and homelessness.

Inflation was also cited, as the costs of materials and supplies are rising, along with facility and vehicle costs and the addition of body cameras.

The cost of meals for inmates in police detention are expected to rise by 97 per cent in 2024 because of inflation, representing an increase of more than $70,000.

The police service is also looking for a budget hike of 5.64 per cent in 2025, bringing it up to $128 million.

Contractual services are expected to be the single largest contributor in non-salary expenditures. Operating and vehicle costs are also expected to go up.

The Saskatoon Public Library, meanwhile, is seeking a 3.49-per-cent budget increase for 2024 and a 3.54-per-cent hike in 2025.

The money used would go towards adding three full-time employees, along with $210,000 in reserve contributions for a new central library.

For 2025, the library wants a budget increase of 3.54 per cent, which would allow it to hire four full-time employees and add another $210,000 to the new central library fund.

The budget requests still have to be deliberated on by council.