Legislative Report (18 March 2009)

Budget 2009-10:

Keeping Saskatchewan Strong and Steady

Our government continues to take action to ensure Saskatchewan remains strong and steady. Not only is the 2009-10 budget balanced, it also delivers the largest education property tax cut in Saskatchewan history. The overall amount paid by our province’s property owners to fund education will be reduced by $103 million, a 14.5 per cent reduction from last year. Property taxes will be reduced by a further $53 million next year.

So what does that mean for property owners?

1. Education property tax on a home in Canora with a 2008 assessment of $79,800 will decrease by an estimated $785 over the next two years.
2. A farmer with 10 quarters in the RM of Winslow with a 2008 assessment of $298,100 will save an estimated $2,097 over the next two years.
3. A Regina home owner with a 2008 assessment of $200,000 will save an estimated $457 over the next two years.
4. A commercial property owner in Saskatoon with a 2008 assessment of $301,100 will save an estimated $926 over the next two years.
5. Education property tax on a home in Katepwa with a 2008 assessment of $201,600 will decrease by an estimated $1,485.

That is money back in the pockets of individuals and families. When you combine the education property tax cut, the historic income tax cut announced last fall and other benefit increases made by our government, Saskatchewan people will save thousands of dollars in 2009.

Other budget highlights include:

1. $1 billion in capital funding, building on the $1 billion Ready for Growth infrastructure program announced with Budget 2008-09 and the $500 million accelerated infrastructure boost announced in February - for a total commitment of $2.5 billion last year and this year to ensure Saskatchewan has the roads, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure in place to ensure a strong economy;
2. $167.4 million in operating grants for municipalities, an increase of $32.3 million or 24 per cent - step one of a two-year plan to base municipal operating grants on the value of one point of the Provincial Sales Tax;
3. $200 million over two years for a new Children's Hospital in Saskatoon;
4. $358.2 million for road and highway work province-wide, an increase of $86.7 million from 2008-09;
5. $1.6 million to hire 30 new police officers - year two of the government's commitment to hire 120 new officers over four years;
6. $108.1 million in additional funding for farm income stabilization programs, which includes an additional $102.1 million for AgriStability and $6 million for AgriInvest;
7. $25.2 million in additional funding for Crop Insurance, including $20 million in enhancements to implement the recommendations of the Crop Insurance Review;
8. $57.8 million for early learning and child care (ELCC), an increase of $12.6 million, for 1,000 new spaces, child care worker training, funding lifts for ELCC service providers and capital for new space development and maintenance;
9. $24.9 million for the first installment of a multi-year strategy to make improvements in the child welfare system;
10. $23.5 million to enable universities to limit tuition increases to an average of three per cent;
11. $16.5 million for annualized enhancements to the Seniors Income Plan; and
12. $12.5 million to adjust shelter rates in the income assistance programs in response to the Task Force on Housing Affordability and index shelter allowances and supplements to 70 per cent of average market rate.

With this historic budget, our government is continuing to take action that will keep Saskatchewan strong and steady. For more budget details, please go to the Budget webpage.

Past Legislative Reports