Regina city council has embarked on a critical week of financial planning, diving into detailed deliberations for the city's 2026 operating, utility, and capital budgets. The sessions, running from December 15 to 19, 2025, will see councillors confront a significant proposed property tax increase.
The Core Financial Challenge
City administration has presented a stark financial picture for the coming year. To maintain all municipal services at their current 2025 levels, an operating budget of $687.5 million is required for 2026. This creates a substantial funding shortfall of $51.79 million if tax rates remain unchanged.
To bridge this gap, administration is proposing a mill rate increase of 15.69 per cent. For the owner of an average home assessed at $320,000, this would translate to an additional $396.48 per year in property taxes. Of the total proposed hike, 10.44 per cent is attributed directly to civic operations, covering salary increases and city-run services. The remainder is allocated to funding external service partners and debt payments for capital projects.
Utility Costs and Proposed Cuts
The budget package extends beyond property taxes. The utility operating budget is projected at $213.3 million, necessitating a utility rate increase of 7.82 per cent. This would add approximately $168.60 annually to the average household's bills.
In a move to offset some costs, administration has suggested lowering the fee for the garbage cart program, which would save users $43.80 per year. An additional rebate of up to $27.50 is also on offer for those who paid cart fees in 2025.
A supplementary report outlining potential service cuts has been included in the budget documents, sparking concern among residents and community groups. Notably, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 588, representing Regina Transit workers, has voiced strong opposition to proposed reductions.
Public Input and Council's Task
The budget process has attracted considerable public attention. More than 80 people have registered as delegates to address council on various aspects of the budget throughout the week. An additional 160 residents have submitted written correspondence for councillors to consider during their decision-making.
Deliberations began on Monday morning with a review of the Regina Police Service (RPS) budget. By the end of the week, council is expected to make final decisions on the three core budget pieces and set annual funding allocations for the city's service partners.
The council's fundamental task is clear: either accept the substantial 15.69 per cent mill rate increase as proposed or work to whittle it down through a series of difficult cuts to services and programs. The outcome of this week's discussions will have a direct and lasting impact on Regina taxpayers and the level of municipal services they receive in 2026.
