Regina Floral Conservatory finds possible funding cuts, ‘shocking’ as it prepares to swing city councillors at budget talks

Regina’s 2026–27 budget forecast proposes a 15.69 percent mill rate hike, raising concerns about potential grant cuts. Donovan Maess reports.

The Regina Floral Conservatory has operated as a volunteer-based non-profit organization for more than 35 years. Reliant in part on city funding, it is now concerned about its future after administration proposed cutting its grant in the 2026-27 budget.

“It’s really sad to see,” conservatory vice-president Mariana Hinojosa Centella told CTV News Monday. “We have all different stories why we came there. Some of the volunteers have been [here] for more than 20 years, the Floral Conservatory is their lives.”

Regina city administration released its budget documents for next month’s budget deliberations Nov. 20, and with it, is forecasting a mill rate increase of 15.69 per cent.

If approved by council next month, 15.69 per cent would be the largest mill rate increase in more than a decade and more than double the 7.3 per cent increase it approved for 2025.

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The forecasted hike is based on what administration says is needed to keep the city’s current services at residents’ desired levels, plus what priorities council has outlined.

Documents also listed potential cuts council has discretion to make in order to save money within the budget.

The Floral Conservatory is requesting $20,000 of in-kind support for utilities and building maintenance of its greenhouse.

Over the weekend, the conservatory took to social media upon seeing the release of the 2026-27 budget documents, which included the possible cuts and the decommissioning of its building.

“The Regina Floral Conservatory provides a great service to the city by educating 3,000 Regina school children per year, providing a popular attraction to over 23,000 residents and tourists per year, and by providing a space for improved mental health and wellbeing in the community,” the post read. “We are hopeful City Council will remove the decommissioning of the Floral Conservatory from the agenda.”

“When you find out such hard news, it can be shocking,” Hinojosa Centella said. “We’re not resistant to change. However, we understand this is such an important place. It has been an important place, not only for me, but it has been for generations.”

A lengthy list

The conservatory is not the only community-based organization at risk of losing funding.

Last month, council requested administration bring forward a list of proposals to save as much as 18.5 per cent towards the overall mill rate.

As part of its budget documents, administration found 139 potential reductions options such as, but not limited to, human resources, communications, financial management services, and information technology.

“There’s not a rug somewhere where we can find a bunch of money,” city CFO Daren Anderson told reporters last week. “In order to make material changes, there has to be cuts to the material areas where we spend money.”

Among the potential cuts are reductions in city services, reducing city grants to community partners like the conservatory, Regina Exhibition Association (REAL), Economic Development Regina (EDR) or the Regina Public Library.

Council could also cancel city events like “I Love Regina” Day or “Light the Lights.”

The estimated savings, if all 139 options were approved, totals $71.56 million.

“We would have to close fire halls or community neighbourhood centres and stop transit,” acting city manager Jim Nicol said. “We don’t do this lightly. We’re not taking any joy [in it] and we’re not taking making any professional recommendation to do that.”

“Some of those very stark reductions are there because they’re component part is pivotal to meeting that target. If there was a vote at council to cut it by $68 million, we don’t have a lot of things you can protect,” he added.

Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo says he was not surprised to see the forecasted property tax hike.

“No one’s happy with an increase like that,” he said. “If you look at Canada’s history right now, we are on track to being one of the highest budget asks of our citizens.”

Bezo adds it is unlikely each and every expense highlighted will be cut. However, nothing is off the table in order to keep Regina one of the most affordable cities to live in Canada.

“Change is more important than cut,” he suggested. “It works through the communication. We talk to our community groups, to our partnerships, everyone involved. And so far, no one is really opposed to spending a little bit more for critical infrastructure.”

Ward 3 Coun. David Froh believes past political decisions are catching up with current city budgets.

“[Council] kept taxes artificially low for political reasons. The bill has come due,” Froh told CTV News. “We have to decide whether we’re willing to invest into things like quality of life. And certainly, those things cost money.”

While cognizant of resident’s need for affordability, Froh is reminding his colleagues the city provides them with essential services which require funding.

“I understand residents are frustrated, I’m frustrated too,” he added. “We got ourselves into this mess by not thinking ahead. But if folks are mad with an increase, wait to see what will happen if we start cutting things like outdoor hockey rinks, community centres and snow removal.”

Mayor Chad Bachynski is not supportive of the full 18.5 per cent option – which would reduce the overall mill rate a total of five per cent.

“That is just an untenable amount of service to cut from the city,” he told CTV News last week. “Other items, in terms of more moderate increases, I’m very interested to go through the process and see what the sliding scale of funding looks like.”

The floral conservatory remains hopeful their longstanding partnership with the city may continue – and so too their funding.

“We’re confident the city will make the right choices,” Hinojosa Centella said. “Understanding the money they are investing is going towards community.”

The 2026-27 budget deliberations are scheduled over five days in mid-December from the 15th through the 19th.

When approved, any changes will not be in effect until spring 2026.

This year, the city is approving a two-year budget in attempt to streamline the process in 2027.

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