'We just need to be good stewards': Regina city council OKs further reductions to REAL budget

Budget deliberations are continuing. Check back for updates.

Debate of Regina's 2025 city budget continued on Tuesday, with city council members questioning the Regina Police Service on its budget request and voting to further reduce the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) budget.

The city's proposed operating budget includes an increase of 11 per cent, to $841 million. The bulk of that would be funded by an 8.5 per cent increase to the city mill rate, the largest bump in more than 10 years.

On Monday the police service introduced a lower budget request than initially proposed, asking for a $6.2-million increase to fund salaries and operating expenses. That would bring its budget for 2025 to $121 million.

In response to a question by Coun. Shannon Zachidniak about what would happen if the budget was lowered further, Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh was firm that he had done all he can to cut back.

"We're not asking for any additional staffing out of that budget — that's just operating costs and salaries," he said Tuesday. 

"If it didn't get approved, there's only one outcome: we'd have to lay people off," he said. "That would have an adverse effect on public safety. We'd go back to levels of crime that we had before."

The final police budget will be voted on later this week.

Further REAL reductions approved

Council members also approved further reducing the budget of REAL, which is responsible for putting on events, promoting concerts and drawing tourism to the city. It also operates the Brandt Centre, the Co-operators Centre and Affinity Sportsplex.

On Monday, representatives from REAL said they were lowering their budget request to $11.5 million, down from an earlier request of $12.7 million. Coun. Shobna Radons proposed another $300,000 reduction on top of that.

"Let's face it. The community has a huge concern about REAL. And understanding that we do need to make an adjustment, and this does affect our mill rate," she said.

"We just need to be good stewards, and look at how we can not impact our residents with an 8.5 per cent mill rate." 

REAL CEO Roberta Engel said she was willing to accept the reduction, but warned that there would be consequences.

"We're more than happy to try and make it work as best we can, but there is potentially an impact on serviceability," she said.

Radons's motion was passed on Tuesday afternoon.

City council has the entire week to debate the 2025 budget. The vote on the final budget will take place later this week.