Regina city council to vote on 2016 budget Monday night

Regina city council will vote Monday on how much taxes will go up in 2016.

The City of Regina released its proposed budgets for 2016 last month, which includes a tax hike of 2.9 per cent, with an additional one per cent dedicated to improving residential streets.

“We may look at ways to reduce that,” Mayor Michael Fougere said at the time, noting that an increase of 2.9 per cent is significant.

“But as I say, this budget does hit a lot of priorities that council has talked about.”

The proposed budget also includes a six per cent increase in water rates.

Other highlights include:

• $24.1 million for street, sidewalk and bridge renewal
• $9.1 million for winter road maintenance
• funding for eight new constables for the Regina Police Service
• $5.7 million for recreation facilities, playgrounds and parks

Council meets Monday evening to vote on the budget.