Police budget, transit the focus as 2020 city budget talks continue

Regina residents will have to wait a little longer to find out how much they’ll be paying in property taxes next year.

A rare, third budget meeting is needed after city council ran out of time Tuesday evening on the second of its two scheduled meetings.

Council spent the entirety of the meeting focusing on just two items: The proposed police budget and transit.

Police budget

Councilor Jerry Flegel put forward a motion calling the proposed police budget inadequate for the challenges and pressures facing the Regina Police Service. Flegel wanted to return the budget to the Board of Police Commissioners to be reconsidered for more funding.

To do so, the entire city budget deliberations would have had to be put on hold until the Board of Police Commissioners returned with its reconsidered budget so that the city could look at its effect on the overall mill rate.

Flegel believes Regina is short about 40 police officers, but he suggested starting with an additional eight officers in 2020 on top of the four officers already proposed in the budget. That could cost another $520,000 per year, translating to a 0.25 per cent mill rate increase.

Mayor Michael Fougere said council could have had the conversation if the motion came forward earlier this year, adding it was unclear what it was asking for.

“Council cannot direct the police to spend money in a certain way. It cannot break open the budget. It can say yes or no to the budget so that discussion was a bit awkward and off-centre,” said Fougere.

Councilors spent most of their time questioning Police Chief Evan Bray how police try to remain visible in all areas of the city. They also asked what he would spend any extra money on, whether it be frontline officers or social programs meant to help lower crime in the long run.

Bray said while both are important, his immediate need could be frontline officers. He explained the police service limited its ask in the number of additional officers with an understanding of the challenges council faces.

“We’re not so naive to think that our police budget is the only thing that’s going to be considered at budget time. We know there’s a lot of asks in the city and so we have to try and find a way to meet the needs of our community in balance with all of the other city needs,” said Bray.

However, he was also clear he supports the proposed budget and is comfortable with the additional four officers it provides. He was also happy to hear council having a discussion about the challenges police face in terms of resources.

Flegel said he’s heard concerns from residents who want more of a police presence on the streets now.

“This is about public safety in the City of Regina. I don’t care what area you live in, it’s not good,” said Flegel.

Council approved the proposed budget as is. It decided to ask police to review its budget for next year and include comments and concerns brought forward by councillors.

Flegel was visibly upset that his motion had failed and worried that by 2021, the police service will need even more frontline officers than it does now.

“We’re going to be another year and a half out before we even get any other officers on the street besides the four that we may approve or not approve tonight. I think we’ve done the citizens a disservice,” Flegel said.

Transit

Council made three amendments to the transit portion of the budget.

It approved a three-year pilot for a transit service between the airport and downtown Regina.

The airport bus route would run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. then pick up again from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. in 30 minute intervals. It will include stops along the way with increased frequency on 13th Avenue, introducing service to the small residential area west of Lewvan Drive and service to the businesses adjacent to Sandra Schmirler Way.

“In other words, not only does it go to the airport, it goes to the downtown, connects with transfers, connects then to other hotels and it actually increases and improves services in very established neighbourhoods. I argue it will be used,” said Councilor Andrew Stevens.

The Regina Airport Authority is offering $100,000 for operational expenses to help get the pilot started. The city will be on the hook for $144,000 to be paid for through reserves.

“Everybody wants this. I’m told that the request for an airport shuttle is older than I am,” said Stevens. “This is one of the sweetest deals you’re going to find.”

The mayor did not agree with Stevens that there is a business case for this route. Fougere did not support the motion because groups like the hotel association aren’t on board yet.

He’s also not convinced there will be enough ridership and is concerned about how to fund the program after the $100,000 from the airport authority runs out.

“I’m not against transit going to the airport. I’m against this moment doing it,” said Fougere.

Council also voted to extend transit service to the Westerra neighbourhood at a cost of $98,000. It provided another $50,000 for the paratransit service to reduce the customer wait list and unaccommodated trips. These will also be funded through reserves for a total of $292,000 for all three transit amendments.

Since the general reserve fund is being topped up by the surplus in the 2020 budget, these transit projects will essentially lower the $6.5M surplus to about $6.2M.

Budget deliberations continue Friday at 1 p.m.