The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says, according to documents it obtained, the City of Saskatoon spent $297,490 on three large plastic rocks.

The money went to a Calgary based artist duo to create “Modern Erratics” which consisted of three large plastic rocks.

Pointing to the 6.7 per cent hike in property taxes this year, the CFT says taxpayers shouldn’t be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for plastic rocks.

Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block says they will have to review their policy.

“When we have a situation where we are trying so hard to keep property taxes down, even though there was no property tax increase based on that decision, I think it is important that council take a look at that policy and clearly define what its intention is and making sure that this is the direction our residents expect of us.”

The plastic rocks are located in an empty field at the Foresty Farm Park, on the side of Circle Drive in Diefenbaker Park and inside the Material Recovery Centre at the Saskatoon landfill.

The plastic rocks were paid for through a city policy that dedicates up to one per cent of a city project’s budget to public art.

The CTF estimates that the City of Saskatoon could have purchased genuine rocks from local businesses for about $17,000 to $50,000 each.