Homeowners Hold Lion’s Share Of Growing Tax Arrears

Residential property tax affordability will be front row center at this Monday’s regular meeting of Moose Jaw city council.

As part of the third quarter financial reports Council will learn that in the past two years tax arrears have doubled.

Council will also learn the vast majority of property tax arrears are in the residential (home owners) property tax class.

Graph of property tax arrears - source City of Moose Jaw report

According to report property tax arrears were $1,495,321 on September 30, 2022 but had grown to $2,970,814 on September 30, 2024. An almost doubling of outstanding property tax arrears in two years.

A further look at the report shows the largest portion of the property tax arrears of $3,721,000 was in the residential property class.

At the present time the City is looking at tax increases in the 2025 Operating Budget.

In his response to a MJ Independent question on election night Mayor James Murdock said he would do his best when it came to potential property tax increases and how it would impact homeowners who were pensioners, lower incomes and on fixed incomes.

“Since this is going to be the first budget, Moose Jaw budget I will be part of I will be putting a lot of attention and my ears will be wide open. I know there may be some challenges but working with the Administration we have and our new elected Council we will try and do the best we can,” Mayor Murdock responded at the time.

According to the federal government over the past two years Canadians have been in an affordability crisis with ordinary Canadians struggling to make ends meet.