Mayoral candidates focus campaigns on minimizing property tax increases

A pair of Saskatoon mayoral candidates are hoping minimizing property tax increases will land them on council this fall.

Former mayor Don Atchison upped his political comeback attempt on Friday by announcing his intention to vote for zero per cent property tax increases in 2021 if he is to become mayor.

The current property tax increase approved by council is 3.87 per cent.

“I’m firmly entrenched on zero per cent,” Atchison said. “I don’t think you need to cut services.”

Atchison believes enough funds earmarked for a new landfill can be deferred for a year based on the premise that “the landfill isn’t going anywhere.” The reserve funding for the landfill has been underfunded in recent years.

A delay of funding to capital reserves would also help accomplish no tax increase, according to Atchison.

Fellow candidate Rob Norris believes a one per cent increase is far more realistic. He plans on reducing the tax hike by restructuring salaries at the mayor’s office.

“Let’s go to one per cent…and the goal — if I have the good fortune of serving as mayor — is keeping it right around there for the entire first term,” Norris said, noting fire departments and police would be exempt from salary reductions.

“I’d set a hiring freeze at city hall. We also want the mayor’s office to take the lead,” Norris said, pointing to salary reductions for the mayor, the mayor’s chief of staff and the mayor’s communications department.

Norris blasted Atchison for similar campaign promises made in the past that ultimately resulted in tax increases in the following years.

Charlie Clark wasn’t spared from his frustrations either. Norris believes tax increases under Clark’s leadership are “punishing.” Norris would also like to end the city’s practice of operating on a two-year budget cycle. Last year was the first two-year budget released by the city.

The 2021 increase amounts to $6.31 per month based on a home assessed at $371,000, for an annual total of $75.74.

650 CKOM reached out to Clark to comment on property taxes, but he was unavailable.

Atchison wouldn’t commit to avoiding layoffs to achieve his goal but did pledge to honour union contracts, some of which have pay increases negotiated into the agreement.

While city administration would warn against a tax freeze due to fears of making up gaps in the reserve fund in future years, Atchison believes that problem can be explored at a later time.

“We’re not sacrificing tomorrow today — we’re not,” he said, unable to determine if taxes would climb even higher in 2022 due to no increases in 2021.

“The reason we’re not is because no one knows what’s going to come forward in the future.”