Regina residents could be facing another potential tax increase.
City administration has made recommendations to address the $10.3 million budget shortfall. They include a mill rate increase of 2.5 per cent, which is in addition to the 3.99 per cent originally approved.
The total 6.49 per cent increase would cost the average homeowner with a $350,000 house an extra $118 more than last year.
City administration is also recommending a million dollar cut to the police budget.
According to administration’s suggestions, program and service reductions would save nearly $900,000. Several other cost-saving measures are also included, such as hiring freezes and a moratorium on out-of-province non-essential travel.
Traffic bylaw fees and street use permits could also jump by 20 per cent.
City administration didn’t recommend drawing on the city’s reserves to cover the shortfall, which is something Premier Brad Wall had suggested.
The proposed budget will be balanced through a combination of approximately $924,000 in revenue increases, $4.1 million in reduced expenses and an additional 2.5 per cent mill rate that would generate an extra $5.25 million in revenue.
The city is required by law to balance the budget each year and was required to reopen and rebalance this year’s budget after it received less money than expected from the province.
These recommendations will go before city council on Monday night.