The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the city of Swift Current to rein in its expenses after spending more per person than any other city in 2024.

“Swift Current taxpayers need to ask councillors why they are spending more per person than every other city in the province,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “The city will point to its electrical utility as the reason, but other cities with utilities spend less per person so that’s not the whole story.

“Swift Current needs to look harder for ways to save money.”

Swift Current spent $3,777 per person in 2024, the most out of all the cities in the province, including Saskatoon and Regina, according to the CTF’s Saskatchewan municipal spending report.

Saskatoon spent $3,254 per person in 2024, and, like Swift Current, it operates an electrical utility.

The average small and medium-sized city spent $2,912 per person. Warman spent the least at $1,858 per person.

Gravelbourg spent the most of any town at $4,367 per person. Ponteix spent the least at $1,570.

Today, the CTF released a report analyzing per-person spending for all cities and towns across Saskatchewan.

“Taxpayers pay the bills and they deserve to know how their mayors and councillors are spending their tax dollars,” Haubrich said. “And they deserve to know how much other municipalities are spending in comparison to hold their local politicians accountable when they spend too much.”

The data for the report comes from the Saskatchewan government’s online portal for municipal financial statements. After years of pressure from the CTF, the Saskatchewan government finally posted provincial municipal financial statements online.

The report analyzing per-person spending can be found HERE.