Council delays vote on transit fare increase, costing city thousands in lost revenue

Regina city council has postponed the implementation of the 10 per cent bus fare increase by two weeks leaving the new implementation date unclear.

Regina’s city council has tabled a vote on a bylaw which would finalize a 10 per cent transit fare increase, a move administration says could cost the city several thousand dollars.

In December, councillors passed a motion to increase Regina Transit fees by a flat rate of 10 per cent.

It is a move which has drawn public opposition and petitions, calling on the city to scrap the increase.

Council was set to vote Wednesday on administration’s final bylaw wording which would have finalized the increase, but Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak requested the item be tabled to council’s next meeting.

“I am asking for some additional time to seek additional options to address the concerns that have been raised with this bylaw,” she told her fellow councillors. “I’m just asking for a bit more time.”

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The agenda passed with unanimous approval from council with the transit fare increase bylaw removed.

The city hoped to have the rise in transit fees come into effect beginning April 1, 2026.

Administration did warn the delay could have consequences.

“It’ll take us about one month to implement the fare increases,” manager of operations Kurtis Doney cautioned. “If it’s delayed, [the increase] will just be delayed the corresponding amount.”

“Then there’s approximately $36,000 in lost revenues for every two weeks we delay beyond April 1st,” he added.

Mayor Chad Bachynski believes council should follow through on the decision it made in December.

“There’s been some conversations as councilors look at maybe some other alternatives to increasing the fares,” he told reproters after Wednesday’s meeting. “My perspective is we did approve it at budget time and we were to fail that bylaw, that means the estimated amount we would have to made up, which is around $500,000, and come from our general fund reserve.”

Lost revenues could result in the city’s operating budget being unbalanced with expenditures.

By law, Saskatchewan municipalities are not allowed to run deficits.

Should Regina lose transit fare revenue and its budget is not balanced, the city will be forced to move money from other areas to address the shortfall.

Traditionally, administration fixes budget issues like this through its general reserve.

“We know that our reserves are depleted so I don’t think that’s a very responsible idea,” Bachynski said. “[Some councillors] are trying to see if there may be some trade offs, as an alternative.”

Councillors are expected to discuss the transit fare increase at its next meeting slated for March 11.

Any registered delegates set to speak to the item are automatically moved to that meeting. Additional delegates wishing to speak will also be able to register prior to that date.