Regina residents react to council budget decisions

Regina residents are finding out how the city is making up for the funding shortfall it is facing.

City council approved measures to make up a $10.3 million funding shortfall Tuesday night.

One of the options approved was a 2.5 per cent tax hike.

Some people wanted to see council find ways other than a tax increase.

“I don’t have a problem with them actually dipping into reserves given the amount of reserves that they do have,” said Allan Laird.

“What about all the money they’re putting into the food bowl at the stadium? Why can’t they use some of that?” one Regina woman said.

Merilee Tulloch said council had tough choices to make, but agrees they shouldn’t have went to the reserves.

“You can’t spend all your savings and then you don’t have them when you need them for an emergency,” Tulloch said.

During the winter, garbage pickup will be on a bi-weekly basis.

Brad Massier said he doesn’t see it as a huge problem most of the time.

“There are those times where you’re just waiting for garbage day to come,” he said. “If I had one of those situations where we just had to chill out I think that’d get pretty annoying pretty fast with a full garbage bin sitting there.”

Others agreed that it shouldn’t be an issue for them either.

“I’m fine with that actually in the winter time,” Laird said.

Council decided not to close the Regent Park Golf Course and will continue to run holiday bus service.