Saskatoon city council has extra $1.2 million for next year

Saskatoon's mayor and council are going into city hall today with their calculators charged up.

It's the first day of the annual budget review, and they're heading into their talks with a surprise windfall.

Just before the weekend, the mayor and council got news of an extra $1.2 millionin property tax revenue.They'll have to decide whether to use that to whittle down next year's tax increase,salt it away for some future use,or spend it now.

The administration is recommending all of it be put into the capital reserve.

Under the preliminary budget,property taxes were pegged to go up 3.95per cent. The extra tax revenuewould knock 0.66 per cent off the mill rate,bringing the tax increase closer to threeper cent if that's howcouncil decides to spend it.

Most of the tax hike will go towards better roads and beefed up policing and fire protection.

Meanwhile, council has a host of other proposals to considerthat will also affect the bottom line.Among them are increased snow removal from residential streets and longer hours for paddling pools.

As well, council is being asked to approve a slate of fee increases, including an average three per cent increase in transit fares starting Feb. 1. Also proposed are increases in zoo admission fees, rates and fees at Gordon Howe Campground, rental rates for indoor arenas, and fees at Woodlawn Cemetery.