Civic Debt and Finances

The current City of Saskatoon debt is a number that most residents cannot really comprehend. The number is so large that no person has a real sense of what this might actually look like.

I feel that every resident of Saskatoon should fully understand just how much debt we are all currently in and how much additional debt we will be burdened with if some have their way during this time of crisis.

As Mayor, I will work to halt big projects that are poised to add to our collective debt. It is my purpose to work to serve business enterprise to add vitality to our city by private development and expansion that is not publicly funded. When our future has settled down, and we regain control of our finances with a stable future, then the grand projects may again be viable. But that is not now.

I am frustrated how the City of Saskatoon represents income and debt in fiscal reports. The City reports are not written in easy to understand ways so average taxpayers can understand what has transpired with our tax dollars. There are jurisdictions where laws are required to be written in everyday language and this should be the case for our finances as well. If the average citizen understands the Consumer Price Index in relation to inflation, then the City should relate and refer to the same in its own reporting.

My view is that the cost of a water utility should only represent the reasonable cost of providing that water to the residential and business clients alike. Including the cost of capital improvements, of course, but true profits should be absolutely minimal. If you charge inflated prices on the provision of that essential service to all residents, and then you dump that profit blindly into general revenues for use elsewhere, then you should at least own the fact it is another level of general taxation on all residents within the City. I would prefer that the City charge the lowest amount absolutely needed to operate and grow the utility and then you face the citizens straight on when you raise their tax rates to make up the shortfall.

The same would apply to power generation. Beyond proper planning for upgrading and improvements, there should be minimal profits only. Our tax rates may increase but residents will know that they are not also paying hidden taxes for various public services that were charging inflated rates.

There is another civic policy that hurts some businesses. The City charges for water and sewer at equal volumes, even if the City knows full well that a business actually uses water in their process but does not generate any sewer discharge for the majority of that water volume. Its another unfair tax on some businesses.