YORKTON - The Canadian Taxpayers Federation recently released data which indicates Yorkton spends more per capital ($3,108), than all but one other small and medium-sized Saskatchewan city.
The material shows Swift Current at $3,741. North Battleford was third at $2,989, followed by Estevan at $2,932.
At the other end of the spectrum are Martensville at $1,794 and Warman $2,146.
The average Saskatchewan small and medium-sized city spent $2,635.
For Saskatchewan’s two largest cities, Saskatoon spent $3,161 per person compared to $2,761 for Regina.
With the release the CTF called on the city of Yorkton to tighten its belt and rein in its spending after spending more per person than almost any other city in Saskatchewan in 2021.
“City taxpayers need to ask councillors why they are spending more per person than almost every other city in the province,” said Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director of the CTF in the release. “Other cities have shown it can be done for less, Yorkton needs to get rid of its spending problem.”
When contacted by Yorkton This Week Haubrich was asked if there was companion data showing what services in the various cities receive for the dollars spent.
“It’s just a general comparison of spending,” he said, adding the data is presented to allow taxpayers in each city to determine if they are getting good value for the dollars spent.
Yorkton mayor Mitch Hippsley said the release was “very interesting to see,” but added one shouldn’t read too much into a single year.
“I realize every year there are ebbs and flows on spending.”
The numbers also are difficult to compare without some context in terms of level of service provided, reasoned Hippsley.
For example Martensville and Warman are newer communities which means they need to spend almost nothing in terms of water and sewer line repairs and replacement, or street re-paving, which impacts what they need to invest and lowers their per capita spending, said Hippsley.
“Their serving costs are so minimal,” he said.
And, what other services a city municipality provide has to factor in too, said Hippsley, as an example does a particular city run a public golf course.
Hippsley also noted RCMP costs vary, depending on population, with larger communities paying a high percentage of policing costs.
The city of Yorkton spent $3,108 per person in 2021, the second most out of all the cities in the province, according to the financial statements obtained by the CTF through freedom of information requests. The average Saskatchewan city spent $2,635. Martensville spent the lowest at $1,794 per person.
In addition to the report detailing municipal spending the CTF also released and an online database where taxpayers can view and compare municipal financial statements.
“Now taxpayers can find out if they are getting value for their dollars.” Haubrich said in the release. “Taxpayers pay the bills and we deserve to know how municipal politicians spend our money.”
