City Finances By The Numbers

At a recent City Council meeting, the elected officials received the Audited Statement and Public Accounts for 2025 along with assurances that the City of Moose Jaw is in good financial shape.

Before a deeper dive into the financial information, a brief summary of other statistics can provide context.

Population of Moose Jaw - Statistics Canada Census data

1986- 35,073
    2016- 33,910
    2021- 33,665
    2024- 33,579  Statistics Canada estimate

Consumer Price Index (inflation) as measured in Regina

2022- 6.7%
    2023- 2.9%
    2024- 2%
    2025- 2.1%

Compounded, an increase of 14% the past four years

REVENUES
City of Moose Jaw residential property tax increases
   

2023- 4.6%
    2024- 8.93%
    2025- 6.1%
    2026- 8.05%

Compounded, up 31% the past four years.

According to the financial records provided Council, property tax revenues (tax increases and assessment growth) went from $30,774,914 to $42,809,335; an increase of 39% over four years compared to inflation of 14%. This in a city with stagnant population growth.

Revenues from utilities also increased, albeit only 23% over the four years, going from $28,277,736 to $34,790,105.

Yet revenues from licenses and permits- an indicator of economic vibrancy- were $1,674,916 in 2021 and slightly less in 2025 at $1,529,052.  Some stones yield less blood.

So much for revenues.

EXPENDITURES

On the City’s expenditure side, overall Operating Budget expenditures increased 31.8% over the four years 2021-2025, going from $84,260,577 to $111,117,216. This at a time when many sarcastically say are indicative of significantly improved City services!

CITY HALL BUREAUCRACY COSTS UP

A closer look shows that the General Government budget line- the one that pays for the bureaucracy of City Hall- increased 40.3% from 2021 to 2025, going from $9,251,416 to $12,981,228.

PARKS AND REC MORE CASH

Not to be outdone, the Department of Community Services which used to be called Parks, Recreation and Facilities, increased spending by 50.1%, going from $16,164,496 to $24,265,088.

PUBLIC WORKS SEEMINGLY SHORTCHANGED

Given the sad state of Moose Jaw’s roads and infrastructure, it can be noted that over the four years, while City Hall  bureaucracy went up 40.3% and Parks, Rec. and Facilities went up 50.1%, the department of Public Works increased only 25%, from $9,750,137 to $12,199,416.

It’s called priorities.