Saskatoon is growing and is projected to hit 500,000 people in the next 30 years but according a new report says the growth isn't paying for itself.

At Monday's city council meeting, council members learned more about the results of a report it commissioned by Hemson Consulting out of Toronto.

The report includes overviews of the costs of growth from roads to overpasses to leisure centres.

The basic finding is that new infrastructure, developments and city-wide amenities aren't paying for themselves. That has put a financial burden those who pay property taxes.

A new report commissioned by the City of Saskatoon recommends infill rather than developing in new areas. (CBC) That's because the city's non-tax revenues aren't keeping up with growth, while property taxes went up by nearly 33 per cent between 2009 and 2014.

In order to diversify it's revenues, the report recommends the city increases levies on development projects, including on water, wastewater, and leisure centre developments.

The report recommends developing in older neighbourhoods through infill, rather than building in new areas. The authors note that is more cost-effective for the city.

Property tax changes?

Currently, property taxes make up 45 per cent of the city's revenue. Council member Tiffany Paulsen said the report provides an opportunity for the city to revamp how it handles development costs.

She suggests Saskatoon adopt a base property tax system where all property owners would pay a common minimum tax, and additional taxes may be levied on top of that.

"There's some properties in the city who are not paying an adequate amount of property tax to cover even the most basic of services, and by that I mean police and fire," Paulsen said. "So it's a topic of discussion whether there should be a minimum tax placed on residential residences in order to cover the cost of basic services."

City council decided to have the report studied by administration officials.

Paulsen hopes that the discussion of a base property tax will be also be examined by administration.