Saskatoon’s Mayor, Cynthia Block, expressed admiration for the Grey Cup victory parade held by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During a city council meeting, Mayor Block mentioned feeling proud and excited about the win but also envious that Regina had the parade, which she deemed unfair.
As Mayor Block leads the council through her first two-year budget discussion, any prior jealousy toward Regina has likely dissipated. The council in Saskatoon is currently grappling with a preliminary property tax increase of 7.43% for the upcoming year and 5.92% for 2027. If unchanged, next year’s tax rise would match the highest historical increase in Saskatoon, set in 2014.
On the other hand, Regina is facing a significant property tax surge of 15.69%. This increase does not stem from expanded services but is necessary to sustain existing ones, mirroring Saskatoon’s situation.
The proposed tax hikes in many cities are a response to financial challenges in the post-pandemic, inflationary period. However, Regina’s preliminary increase stands out as exceptionally high even amidst escalating costs.
In Regina, Mayor Chad Bachynski, along with mostly rookie council members, will strive to mitigate the tax hike, although property owners should not expect a substantial reduction. Previous instances show that reductions have been minimal, with the 2025 tax increase ultimately lowered to 7.33%.
Mayor Block and Mayor Bachynski both advocate for reevaluating property taxes as a sustainable method for funding city growth. Comparatively, Calgary anticipates a 3.6% property tax increase in 2026, while Edmonton is set for a 6.5% rise next year.
In the context of escalating tax rates across Canadian cities, Vancouver aims for no property tax increase, although this may lead to service cuts and utility fee hikes. Winnipeg and Toronto are also experiencing tax hikes, with Toronto seeing significant increases in recent years.
In light of these trends, Regina’s proposed tax surge surpasses previous years and even outpaces Saskatoon’s historical increases. This shift may be attributed to Regina’s past strategy of maintaining lower taxes for political reasons, potentially resulting in the current situation.
Mayor Block’s cautionary words at a recent luncheon highlight the importance of prudent financial decisions to avoid future fiscal challenges. Saskatoon’s council is presented with numerous options to curb the property tax increase, including adjustments to recreation center fees, bus services, and potential closures of certain facilities like the George Ward Pool.
As Saskatoon prepares for tough decisions ahead, the challenges facing Regina in their upcoming budget discussions loom even larger. A property tax increase below 10% would be a welcome relief for taxpayers, albeit still a significant burden that might necessitate creative solutions to alleviate the impact.