'Let's activate our downtown': Library funding dominates opening day of Regina budget debate

Budget deliberations are continuing. Check back for updates.

A large delegation from the Regina Public Library dominated the city's budget debate session on Monday, requesting a large mill rate increase to fund its operations and its downtown renewal project. 

Regina city council will debate the 2025 budget over the next five days, culminating with a final vote on Friday.

The City of Regina proposed the new budget on March 4. The city's operating budget is projected to grow by 11 per cent to $841 million. That increase is planned to be funded primarily by a large mill rate hike.

The mill rate is proposed to increase by 8.5 per cent, while the utility mill rate is proposed to increase by 5.8 per cent. According to the Saskatchewan Cities Act, cities cannot operate unbalanced budgets.

Monday's session was focused primarily on the library funding. The Regina Public Library, which is funded by a separate mill rate, is requesting an increase of 5.5 per cent to fund the Central Library renewal project, and an additional 4.58 per cent for its regular operations budget. According to the library, the renewal project increase would correspond with an increase of 96 cents per month for the average homeowner, while the operations budget increase would mean an additional monthly increase of 80 cents.

"A central library is the heart of a city, its intellectual and cultural life. It's a living, breathing institution that grows and evolves with the community. In Regina, that growth has for many years been curtailed by our current building," said Marj Gavigan, chair of the library's board. "Let's activate our downtown."

The project to renew the downtown library, either through a renovation of the current building on 12th Avenue or a new building at a different location, has been debated for several years. 

In July 2024, the previous city council approved up to between $92 million and $119 million in debt funding for the project.

The library confirmed that it had just over $20 million in a backup fund, an amount that Coun. George Tsiklis noted was higher than the combined rainy day funds of the police, parks commission and REAL district. 

"Why are you asking for pennies when you have tens of millions at your disposal?" Tsiklis asked. 

In response, the library's CEO, Jeff Barber, noted that that money isn't a regular rainy day fund; it exists solely to fund the renewal project. 

Not granting the 5.5-per-cent increase for the library renewal project could delay it for another year, Gavigan said. The library says it will submit proposals to developers for the project in December.

"If we don't have that commitment of funding, what developer will respond to that RFP [request for proposal] if they don't think the funding is there to pay for it?" Garvigan said.

Debate over whether to build a new building or renovate the existing building continued on Monday, with Garvigan stating the board doesn't know whether the former would be cheaper.

Police ask for $123M operating budget

Police were asking for an gross operating budget of just over $123 million. That's up from the $115 million allocated to police in 2024.

That includes a one-time transfer of $623,300 from the Community Policing Initiative Reserve to fund the Alternative Response Officers in 2025.

Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh said they are working to be more collaborative approach to policing.

"We will look to continue to make progress in making this a safer city where more people want to invest and visit," said Sheikh, adding the 17 per cent of the city budget that goes to police is less than comparable cities such as Saskatoon.

Police reduced their request to $121 million, bringing the requested budget increase to $6.2 million from $7.9 million.

REAL budget

Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) is asking the City of Regina for $11.5 million. That's down from the original budget request of $12.7 million in this year's budget. 

REAL 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.

The $1.2 million in savings would come from reducing cash flow funding by $800,000 and reducing operating funding by $400,000.

The troubled municipal corporation has faced increasing scrutiny as it struggled to operate with a business model that no longer adequately covers its expenses. 

REAL CEO Roberta Engel told council on Monday that they are budgeting for just over $41 million in revenue for 2025, and they are looking at everything from adding a user fee to tickets and parking fees to increase revenue.

"We also have to remember that REAL is a community property and we have to remember that we've got people bringing their kids to soccer and grandparents coming to watch their hockey, their their grandchildren play in hockey or ringette or figure skating," Engel said.

"And so we need to really balance right that piece of, 'Are you coming for a concert or are you coming to watch and attend a public facility for soccer and hockey?' " 

Engel also said REAL is committed to long-term financial sustainability but that it will take time to achieve that goal.

Budget talks continue on Tuesday.