After four days of deliberations, debate, and confusion over the 2024 budget, the City of Regina had its 2024 operating, capital, and utility, leading to a mill rate increase of 2.85 per cent.
That increase included:
- 3.18% for Civic Operations;
- 0.50% for Recreational Infrastructure Dedicated Mill Rate;
- 1.60% for Police Operations;
- 0.63% for Eastern Pressure Solution Dedicated Mill Rate; and
- 0.03% for Community Investment Grant Program – Cold Weather Strategy
Those increases are offset by a 3.09 per cent decrease associated with the garbage collection reduction.
Also seeing an increase was the City’s utility rate, with an increase of 3.0 per cent in 2024.
In total, the average homeowner with a property assessed at $315,000 will experience an increase of $19.79 per month between their property tax ($5.57), utility rate ($5.70) and waste services costs ($8.52).
The five-year general capital plan includes approximately $137 million in 2024, with an overall planned investment of approximately $745 million between 2024 and 2028. To achieve a 2.85 per cent mill rate increase, certain trade-offs have been made, leading to the deferral of some capital investments.
However, the following projects are set to move forward in 2024, ensuring the continued commitment to the City’s growth:
- Dewdney Avenue Corridor Rehabilitation
- Facility Upgrades to Support Bus Electrification
- New Indoor Aquatic Facility and Lawson Replacement
- North East Community Centre
- Community Space in Schools
- South East Fire Station (#8)
“The City of Regina’s Council-approved 2024 Budget delivers a balance between financial
pressures facing municipalities across the country, and affordability for Regina taxpayers,” said Niki Anderson, City Manager.