In last night's regular meeting of City Council, members discussed the City's Second Quarter 2019 Financial Report. 

During the discussion, Coun. Brian Swanson drew the attention of the council to the property tax lien increase from last year which so far amounts to over $1 million. 

Swanson pointed out that $13,688,202 in property taxes is yet to be collected this year, which works out to a 13.5 per cent increase compared to this time last year. 

"The people who are choosing not to pay their taxes prior to the end of June is increasing significantly," said Swanson. "The chart goes back to 2014 and you see it's a 50 per cent increase in people who are not able to pay their taxes or choose not to pay their taxes."

Swanson argued that the lien increase this year could likely be due to increases in property taxes, which council increased to more than three per cent last year. 

"I think that's a statistic to bear in mind that shows the pressure that's being put on our municipal property tax base."

City manager Jim Puffalt also presented council with a comparable per capita reserve and debt analysis of the City of Moose Jaw and four other cities in the province. 

Compared to Regina, Swift Current, Prince Albert, and Saskatoon, Puffalt argued that the City of Moose Jaw is sitting "in the middle of the pack" when it comes to per capita debt and financial reserves. 

However Coun. Swanson argued that it is difficult to compare debts and reserves city to city, pointing out differing strategies of allocation and financial obligation per centre. 

Council members also discussed the $485,000 and $150,000 that the City is over budget for Moose Jaw Police salaries and construction respectively. 

The next regular meeting of the Moose Jaw City Council is scheduled to be held on Sept. 9.