December 16, 2021

MOOSE JAW – Moose Jaw City Council has approved the 2022 Budget.

At a special meeting of Council Wednesday, December 15, Council approved the 2022 Operating, Capital and Equipment Reserve Budgets, totaling $132,823,244 in community investment.

Council approved a 5.45% property tax increase for 2022, with 3.84% dedicated to City programs and services, and 1.61% allocated to the Moose Jaw Police Service for their Budget.

Council also approved a 3% increase to water rates and a 3% increase to sewer rates (combined avg. $3.76/month) and an increase of $35 ($2.92/month) to the annual infrastructure levy. All revenue generated by the levy ($100 in 2022) will go directly to the City’s Water Main Replacement Program.

“We can’t grow Moose Jaw if we don’t invest in our city,” said Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley. “This Budget allows us to focus on economic growth, expanded recreation opportunities, enhanced customer service and it ensures the continued renewal of our infrastructure. I thank our Administration for their hard work in preparing the Budget and their continued efforts during the pandemic, and I thank our entire City Council for their hard work and thoughtfulness throughout the Budget process.”

Among the approved Budget initiatives:

– A new Economic Development coordinator who will work with the City’s Downtown Business Association to assist with their downtown revitalization initiatives. The EcDev coordinator will also focus on economic development opportunities by establishing an Indigenous Engagement Framework.

– Climate Action Plan.

– Weekly waste collection expanded to the month of October.

– Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

– New Official Community Plan.

– Construction of six new outdoor pickleball courts.

– Moose Square Playground Replacement.

– Phase Seven of the Water Main Replacement Program.

– $1.1 million allocated for the future revitalization of the Thunderbird Viaduct (Fourth Avenue Bridge).

With the property tax increase the average single-family residential home will pay $1,571.69 in municipal property taxes, an increase of:

$6.76/mth; $81.12/yr. Overall

$2.00/mth.; $24.00/yr. Moose Jaw Police Service

$4.76/mth.; $57.12/yr. City Services

Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley and City Manager Jim Puffalt answered Budget questions from the media on Thursday, December 16. Watch below: