Moose Jaw water, sewer rate increases could be on the rise

People in Moose Jaw could still be feeling the effects of last year’s provincial budget.

Discover Moose Jaw is reporting city administration presented a status-quo budget to councillors on Tuesday night.

Included in the budget was a 5.01 per cent mill rate increase, 15 per cent water rate increase and a six per cent sewer rate increase.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said this budget included the full result of the 2017 cuts made by the Saskatchewan Party.

“Obviously, I’m concerned,” Tolmie told Discover Moose Jaw. “We’ve been impacted dramatically by of the decision of the provincial government. I understand that their revenue sources are drained but our revenue sources are limited… and we’re at a difficult and challenging time for the city of Moose Jaw. We need to get infrastructure (upgrades) done.”

The five per cent tax increase comes on the heels of a six per cent increase in 2017. Since 2002, water rates have gone up 124 per cent with sewer rates increasing 123 per cent over that same time-span.

The City of Moose Jaw will need to wait to find out if the next provincial budget will affect them. Premier Scott Moe said his government will release the budget on April 10.

All of the increases still need to receive final approval from council.

— With files from Discover Moose Jaw.