'We just need to be good stewards': Regina city council proposes further reductions to REAL budget

Chris Edwards · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 18, 2025 3:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Budget deliberations are continuing. Check backmost for updates.

Debate on Regina's 2025 city fund continued connected Tuesday, with metropolis assembly members continuing to question the Regina Police Service connected its fund petition and discussing whether to further trim the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) budget.

The city's projected operating fund includes an summation of 11 per cent, to $841 million. The bulk of that would beryllium funded by an 8.5 per cent summation to the metropolis mill rate, the largest bump successful much than 10 years.

On Monday the constabulary work introduced a little fund petition than initially proposed, asking for a $6.2-million summation to money salaries and operating expenses. That would bring its fund for 2025 to $121 million.

In effect to a question by Coun. Shannon Zachidniak astir what would hap if the fund was lowered further, Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh was steadfast that helium had done each helium tin to chopped back.

"We're not asking for immoderate further staffing retired of that budget, that's conscionable operating costs and salaries," helium said Tuesday. 

"If it didn't get approved, there's lone 1 outcome. We'd person to laic radical off," helium said. "That would person an adverse effect connected nationalist safety. We'd spell backmost to levels of transgression that we had before."

The last constabulary fund volition beryllium voted connected aboriginal this week.

Further REAL reductions floated

Council members besides projected further reducing the fund of REAL, which is liable for putting connected events, promoting concerts and drafting tourism to the city. It besides operates the Brandt Centre, the Co-operators Centre and Affinity Sportsplex.

On Monday, representatives from REAL said they were lowering their fund petition to $11.5 million, down from an earlier petition of $12.7 million. Coun. Shobna Radons projected different $300,000 simplification connected apical of that.

"Let's look it. The assemblage has a immense interest astir REAL. And knowing that we bash request to marque an adjustment, and this does impact our mill rate," she said.

"We conscionable request to beryllium bully stewards, and look astatine however we tin not interaction our residents with an 8.5 per cent mill rate." 

REAL CEO Roberta Engel said she was consenting to judge the reduction, but warned that determination would beryllium consequences.

"We're much than blessed to effort and marque it enactment arsenic champion we can, but determination is perchance an interaction connected serviceability," she said.

Radons's question was inactive nether treatment erstwhile assembly broke for luncheon Tuesday.

City assembly has the full week to statement the 2025 budget. The ballot connected the last fund volition instrumentality spot aboriginal this week.