Property taxes going up for new Recreation Infrastructure Program

The City of Regina’s budget won’t be finalized for a couple more months, but taxpayers know they’ll likely be paying at least a little more next year, thanks to a new Recreation Infrastructure Program.

The program was approved by city council at Monday night’s meeting and it including a 0.5 per cent mill rate increase every year for the next five, from 2020 through 2024.

“It’s not the first time we’ve done this, but in terms of high profile this is very high profile. Half a mill rate is significant but I think people are going to want to see that,” Mayor Michael Fougere said after the meeting.

About 15 years ago, the city added 0.25 per cent onto the mill rate to buy accessible buses, and a few years ago council added one per cent to the mill rate to improve local roads.

The motion considered Monday stated, “the citizens of Regina have shown that they are prepared to accept a modest mill rate increase if they know that the funds created by that increase are dedicated to a specific infrastructure renewal that they support.”

It also stated in its reasoning that the city needs to be in a position to take advantage of funding opportunities from other levels of government and potential private partners.

In the first year, the mill rate increase is estimated to bring in another $1.25 million, rising to $6.75 million in the last year with the amount staying there barring any other increases.

Fougere said the money would be used for infrastructure, and the first priority is the Lawson Aquatic Centre, with the Maple Leaf and Wascana pools high on the list as well.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Jessie Anton