Regina city council has finalized a difficult 2026 operating budget, ushering in the most significant property tax increase the city has seen in two decades. After a grueling week of deliberations, councillors voted 6-5 late Friday afternoon to adopt a budget featuring a 10.9 per cent mill rate increase.
A Tight Vote and Affordability Concerns
The decision followed five full days of intense debate, with affordability for residents dominating the conversation. The final vote saw Councillors Dan Rashovich, George Tsiklis, Mark Burton, Shanon Zachidniak, and Clark Bezo opposing the budget. Mayor Chad Bachynski acknowledged the challenge in his closing remarks on December 19, 2025.
"This was a tough budget, and we’ve all heard a lot around that," Bachynski stated. "We’ve done our best. We spent a lot of time looking through a lot of items, and I appreciate the work that everybody around this table has done."
Councillor Shanon Zachidniak was particularly vocal, calling it "the worst budget I’ve seen in my time on council" at the week's start. By the end of negotiations, she expressed concern that the attempt to placate residents may have backfired, resulting in a budget that satisfies few.
Financial Impact on Regina Homeowners
The tax increase will have a direct impact on household budgets across the city. For the owner of a Regina home with the average assessed value of $340,000, the change translates to an additional $23 per month, or $276 per year, in property taxes starting in 2026.
This substantial hike comes alongside other proposed fee increases. A separate utility budget, which had not received final approval at the time of the operating budget's passage, proposes a 7.82 per cent increase in utility rates. For an average household, this would mean an extra $168.60 per year, though proposed reductions to garbage cart program fees would offer a partial offset.
Key Service Changes and Fee Hikes
The approved budget introduces several specific changes to city services and fees, effective April 1, 2026:
- A 10 per cent increase to transit fares and a new charge for issuing plastic Umo cards.
- Parking tickets will increase by $10.
- Parking meter rates will rise by $0.50 per hour to $2.50.
- Downtown parking meters will be removed, requiring payment through the city's mobile app.
- Free parking at Wascana Pool will be eliminated.
- Eight new peace officers and two support staff will be hired to address violence on city buses.
The city will also implement service reductions, including the removal of 20 sand boxes used for winter ice control, less frequent park maintenance and pest control, and reduced extended service hours on some evening transit routes.
Capital Projects and Future Spending
Alongside the operating budget, the city's capital plan outlines nearly $1.2 billion in projects over the next five years. Capital spending for 2026 alone is planned at $223.58 million. Major projects slated for the coming year include the completion of the 11th Avenue Revitalization, the beginning of construction on a new Indoor Aquatic Facility, and the completion of wastewater lift stations in the city's east end.
The budget process highlighted the difficult balance municipal governments must strike between maintaining services, investing in infrastructure, and managing the tax burden on residents. The close 6-5 vote in Regina reflects the profound challenges faced by councils across Canada in an era of rising costs and heightened concerns over affordability.
