Four months ahead of when Regina city councillors will approve its 2027 city budget, what services to cut — and which ones to enhance — are already on their minds. Council held its second of four preliminary budget meetings ahead of 2027 city budget deliberations this December with a look at potential service enhancements, should they be approved. “If we fall in love with a huge add on list today and then a big partner ask comes later: December gets really messy and people stop trusting us,” Ward 2 Coun. George Tsiklis warned his fellow council members on Tuesday. “Let’s leave some room; put a placeholder for those asks on the tax math from now on. What I will fight for is people in Ward 2 and across the city. They don’t care about our organizational charts; they care if the sidewalk’s a trip hazard and if the bus is late again, or if downtown looks looked after or not when they work or shop there.” Over the summer, council and administration have planned special meetings to review its preliminary budget in preparation for fulsome deliberations in December. In August, it began its look at the general operating budget with the strategic imperative of achieving a 5.81 per cent mill rate increase to keep Regina’s property taxes within the lowest 25 per cent among comparator cities. On Tuesday, administration presented 35 potential options for enhancements across a wide range of city services — including transit, parks maintenance and its own corporate operations. “The proposed service enhancements total $9.02 million in expenses, partially offset by $215,000 in additional revenues,” acting city CFO Jeff May told council. “[This] results in a net taxation requirement of $8.81 million and an estimated 2.34 per cent mill rate impact if city council were to add all of these to the Budget in December.” “If City Council chooses to add any of these enhancements and stay within its strategic imperative, then service reductions that offset the cost of the selected enhancement will need to be identified,” he added. May said all city departments were asked to layout their respective priorities going into the formation of the 2027 preliminary budget and make requests to council for the various service enhancements: leading to the 35 present Tuesday. “This is based on our internal subject matter experts’ opinion. These are the enhancements that they would recommend to you,” he explained. As discussions commenced, several councillors requested administration research additional enhancements which were not included in their report for possible debate during final budget deliberations in December. “This is just one piece of information,” said Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak. “It’s not etched in stone because we don’t know what will happen with these [comparator] budgets.” “We need to consider that with all the other considerations in building our budget: we don’t know what will happen in comparator cities. I suggest we should remain focused on our own budget,” she added. Among other potential service enhancements presented to council include the implementation of its 2SLGBTQIAP+ Action Plan, Accessibility plans, enhancing maintenance services downtown along with technology and software improvements. In addition to proposing the enhancements, the 35 potential options include the request for dozens of new employees — both full-time and casual – should they all be implemented. Already facing a strained tax base, some councillors worried of the implications of including too much in the upcoming budget. “Over the last two years, we’re looking almost at a 27 per cent mill rate increase in this city, which is just, I just find that ridiculous,” said Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich. Others, however, worried of the implications should council not implement the suggestions administration believes are necessary. “That’s the part that’s hard to see because it’s not really there in an obvious way: what it cost us if we don’t add those things?” Ward 6 Coun. Victoria Flores reminded colleagues. “And we know that’s something we are currently dealing with.” None of the proposed enhancements will be approved until final budget deliberations in December. City council is set for its first look at the 2027-2031 capital plan later this month at a meeting set for Sept. 22. On Oct. 6, councillors will get insight into the utility budget; along with a first look at a potential utility rate increase. Requests for increased funding from the city’s service partners, including Regina Police Service, Provincial Capital Commission, and Economic Development Regina, remain under development. Those requests will be presented to council in October before being incorporated into the proposed budget before being approved during the December budget meetings. Budget deliberations for 2027 are scheduled to take place over five days between Dec. 7-11, 2026. Admin proposes expansion for paid parking to offset costs In search of offsetting costs, administration is also proposing the idea of expanding paid parking zones outside of the downtown core to include areas near Regina General Hospital, Pasqua Hospital and into the Cathedral neighbourhood on Victoria Avenue and Angus Street. “We’ll also have to do some amendments to the traffic bylaw to consider things, like if there’s a residence in a paid parking zone and what we’re going to do with that,” explained director of community standards Faisal Kalim. “That work was not intended to be done for the budget without an actual directive from council to do it.” The city estimates it would create $110,000 in additional revenue. “Why is it included in the enhancements?” Zachidniak asked. “If it’s going to bring in revenue, why aren’t we just doing it?” “It will bring in revenue, but it’s a sensitive topic when you’re expanding parking,” responded manager of operations Kurtis Doney. “It’s a public conversation council should make a public decision on.” Administration’s full report, including the option to expand paid parking, was referred to December’s budget talks.
