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Saskatoon city council is aiming lower.

Council voted on Monday to direct the city administration to try to achieve lower projected property tax increases for the city’s first two-year budget.

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The budget target for 2020 and 2021 included property tax increases of 3.94 per cent and 4.17 per cent, mostly just to maintain current service levels in the face of growth and inflation.

“I know that administration is working hard, but I think we have to keep digging and keep working harder,” Coun. Bev Dubois said.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson warned that “difficult decisions” loom to get the increases lower, likely hinting at service reductions. Council is expected to receive a further report on its options in August and formally approve the budget in November.

Council voted 7-1 to aim for lower numbers, but only after an attempt to approve the original property tax hikes by the administration failed on a tied vote.