WARMAN, Sask. — The city earned the top ranking in terms of tax fairness across Saskatchewan, based on the latest report compiled by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).
The CTF report highlights municipal spending across Saskatchewan’s medium and small cities, with Warman reporting the lowest per-person expenditure in the group.
The per-person spending is based on 2024 financial data, the latest year available from the Saskatchewan government. It compares municipal expenses per person, allowing comparison across communities of different sizes.
Warman recorded per-person spending of $1,858, with a population of 13,999 and total municipal expenses of $26,011,987 in 2024. Martensville followed with $2,075 per-person spending, while Weyburn ($2,325), Prince Albert ($2,742) and Humboldt ($2,746) placed third to fifth.
The remaining cities recorded per-person spending ranging from $2,742 in Prince Albert to $3,777 in Swift Current.
Melfort ($2,784), Moose Jaw ($2,840), Estevan ($3,096), Melville ($3,129), Lloydminster ($3,257), Yorkton ($3,298), North Battleford ($3,321) and Swift Current ($3,777) complete the list.
Warman’s total expenses were approximately $26 million, compared with about $24.2 million in Martensville and $27.2 million in Weyburn, with Mayor Gary Philipchuk saying the figures reflect the municipality’s focus on managing costs while continuing to provide services and programs to residents.
“As inflationary costs continue to rise, Council and administration are determined to be fiscally responsible, thus minimizing economic impact on taxpayers. Inflation continues to affect all our lives. This report by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a testament to the dedication we have for our residents while ensuring the continuance of quality services and programs in our community,” said Philipchuk.
The CTF report argues that per-person spending is a meaningful way to compare municipal finances because communities with lower spending generally need to collect less revenue from taxpayers to cover expenses.
However, per-person spending alone does not account for differences in municipal responsibilities, infrastructure needs, service levels or local circumstances. The reported figure provides a snapshot of municipal spending in 2024 as the city continues to balance fiscal responsibility with the delivery of community services. x./;.lmn b
