Regina weighs potential mill rate increase in preliminary budget discussions

WATCH: City of Regina council began preliminary budget discussions with an estimated 13.5 per cent mill rate increase needed. Wayne Mantyka explains.

Regina’s city council held its first preliminary discussion on its 2026 budget this week – and it looks as though years of trying to hold the line on taxes may have caught up with the city.

“We also need to be honest about how we got here. In recent years, decisions were made to hold mill rate increases below what it actually took to sustain services and keep up with costs,” Mayor Chad Bachynski told reporters.

“It was popular in the short term, but it left this council with harder choices today.”

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City administration says a 13.54 per cent mill rate increase would be needed to maintain current services at optimal levels.

Jim Nicol, the acting city manager, explained that the process is starting earlier so that councillors and residents can have more insight into the budget process – which means council can weigh in much earlier through a planned series of information sessions.

According to a preliminary forecast, the city is projected to spend $555.67 million next year.

The current mill rate will bring in $511 million in revenue – representing an estimated shortfall of $44.76 million.

At this point, any mill rate increase is hypothetical - as the city works towards budget deliberations later this year.

“We are committed to openness, collaboration and making decisions that best serve our community now and into the future,” Bachynski added.

City council is expected to look for ways to reduce costs at a series of meetings between now and the passage of the 2026/27 budget in December.