Year Over Year Property Tax Liens Almost Double

By Robert Thomas

It’s an issue we wrote an editorial about and that is when would the Quarterly Reports to June 30th, 2024 appear (most notably the property tax arrears) and on Monday afternoon they are front and center. As they make it to Council.

And when it comes to outstanding property taxes and tax liens the figures have taken massive jumps year over year.

Total property tax arrears on June 30, 2023 were $2,529,801 and $3,380,725 on June 30, 2024. A year over year increase of $850,924 or 34 percent.

Additionally total property tax arrears are up on June 30th 2024 ($3,380,725) versus $2,080,157 on June 30, 2022. (see chart below)

Chart of outstanding property taxes and their status effective June 30th 2022 - 2024 - city of Moose Jaw chart

In the area of properties with tax liens the figure likewise jumped in 2023 and 2024 year over year on June 30th.

Property tax liens were $3,324,951 on June 30, 2024 versus $1,688,722 on June 30th, 2023 an increase of $1,636,229 or a 97 percent year over year increase.

Chart showing property taxes receivable - City of Moose Jaw chart

Out of all property taxes receivable of $20,574,055 on June 30, 2024 $3,380,725 or 16.43 percent.

Simply put for each $100 in property taxes receivable $16.43 is in arrears.

Table showing what property class has the highest outstanding tax arrears - City of Moose Jaw chart

And for the second year running the property class with the highest tax arrears is the residential class.

In the past finance director Brian Acker has attributed the climb in outstanding residential property taxes on the higher cost of living and inflation.

It is followed closely by commercial and industrial class properties who’s arrears have almost doubled from 2022 - 2023.