Here’s where Regina city councillors agreed to cut spending aiming to save $1.55M

WATCH: Regina city council decided where to cut 2025 spending on Wednesday aiming to save $1.55 million.

During 2025 budget discussions, Regina city councillors approved a mill rate increase below the original projection, but still needed to find where those savings would come from. That decision came to a head on Wednesday.

In total, the savings have a value of $1.55 million for 2025 with 13 items on the chopping block.

Coun. David Froh and Coun. Sarah Turnbull both put forth amendments on where to cut costs.

Turnbull’s proposal involved slashing $50,000 allocated for technology and capital projects as well as a $50,000 deferral of workplace improvement projects. Ultimately her proposal was voted down by an 8-2 vote.

The winning proposal was brought forward by Froh, whose reduction options included utility cost savings for natural gas ($100,000), deferral of city facility upgrades and retrofits ($100,000) and reducing mosquito control service ($44,000). The original proposed number for reducing mosquito control services was $327,650.

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Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said it was past due for this discussion to be finished.

“We’re already well into 2025 and so I think it was good to make a decision and move on,” Bachynski said.

Bachynski added that during the process, which involved an uncommon opportunity for individual councillors to pick and choose potential savings options, they wanted to get to the final number of $1.55 million and also use the process as a learning opportunity for councillors.

“There are lessons learned from every procedure, and I think that was a good one where we kind of saw how people are thinking through the process. And so, I think going forward we will try and tweak that to make it smoother,” Bachynski said.

The changes made by council are based on recommendations by administration made last month.