14 percent in tax increases part of proposed 2025 Regina budget

WATCH: The City of Regina’s 2025 proposed budget includes an 8.5% increase to the mil rate and nearly 6% on the utility rate.

A proposed property tax increase of 8.5 per cent is part of the initial 2025 City of Regina budget up for consideration.

The preliminary budget was released Monday in an online agenda for an Executive Committee meeting set for Wednesday.

The preliminary increase of 8.5 per cent is equivalent to $204 more per year ($17/month) for the average assessed residential property, according to the city.

A proposed utility rate increase of 5.82 per cent was also announced. The city says that would be $116 more per year ($10/month) for the average home. Brining the combined total proposed increase to 14.32 per cent.

The average assessed residential property is valued at $315,000 and the average utility account uses 15 cubic meters of water per month ($131/month), the city said.

“A number of factors contributed to the [proposed] increase in the preliminary mill rate and utility rate,” the agenda report read. “Notably, several capital investments in crucial infrastructure, which have been deferred for years, must be addressed to provide needed services to the community.”

“Further, service partners such as Regina Police Service (RPS) have requested funding increases from the City,” it added.

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• ‘Nobody likes tax increases’: Regina gives first look at 2024 budget

RPS is requesting an operating budget of $109.7 million – an increase of nearly $7 million from 2024.

Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) has an estimated budget request of $12.7 million – over $7 million more than its 2024 budget.

REAL’s budget estimate comes less than a week after Ward 3 Coun. David Froh issued a notice of motion at council’s last meeting to review the organization’s governance and management changes and financial oversight.

If approved by council, Froh’s motion includes the possibility of dissolving REAL and having the city take over its assets and operational responsibilities.

“Only a small fraction of the preliminary mill rate increase represents funding requested by Administration to support civic operations,” the agenda said. “The remaining portion stems from past Council decisions and from funding increase requests from services partners, such as RPS and REAL.”

The preliminary budget will be discussed at Wednesday’s executive committee meeting.

Final deliberations and approval will not happen until March. Budget debate has historically occurred in December but was pushed to the spring due to the civic election last November.