The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on both Yorkton and Melville to rein in expenses after spending more per person than most other Saskatchewan cities in 2024.

“Yorkton and Melville taxpayers need to ask councillors why they are spending more per person than almost every other city in the province,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Other cities show it can be done for less. Yorkton and Melville need to copy their homework and get rid of their spending problem.”

Yorkton spent $3,298 per person in 2024, the third most out of all the cities in the province, according to the CTF’s Saskatchewan municipal spending report. Melville spent $3,129 per person, the fifth highest in the province.

For Saskatchewan’s two largest cities, Saskatoon spent $3,254 per person in 2024 compared to $3,011 for Regina.

The average Saskatchewan 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.