Regina City council searches for cuts on Day 3 of budget talks

The motion would focus specifically on “out of scope” management-level positions and external consultant positions.

Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli introduced the motion which was similar to an earlier defeated motion that was drafted by Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo.

“This is when we decide the outcomes for our resident’s money,” he said.

“I think this is an important matter, I also think it affects the morale as well as the staff internally in this building and other buildings that are in charge and I think it sets a tone for trying to look more like a bottom-up organization instead of a top-down.”

Councillors Shanon Zachidniak (Ward 8) and Victoria Flores (Ward 6) were the only two who voted against it, while Ward 3 Coun. David Froh stepped away for the vote after declaring a conflict of interest.

On the other hand, council also voted to add two full-time employees to help the city’s internal auditor address the 25-year backlog of required audits. This would be funded by a 0.07 per cent mill rate increase.

The initial proposed mill rate for 2025 was 8.5 per cent – the highest in at least ten years.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

In the morning, Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich motioned to deny $110,000 in funding for the city’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion staff. Rashovich originally proposed to deny $220,000 but Mayor Chad Bachynski suggested halving that as a compromise.

Rashovich suggested that those services could be absorbed by the city’s People and Organizational Culture Department.

“People say it’s not a lot of money, but every bit of money is money,” he said.

“I appreciate the spirit of trying to save money for our taxpayers, I feel the same, but I can’t support this amendment because I feel like it’s a step backwards and any process that we’ve made in acknowledging or addressing systematic inequalities,” said Flores.

Flores added that the motion might send a harmful message.

The motion was ultimately defeated 6-5. Councillors Flores (Ward 6), Mancinelli, David Froh (Ward 3), Sarah Turnbull (Ward 5), Shobna Radons(Ward 7) and Zachidniak voted against it while councillors Bezo, Mark Burton (Ward 4), George Tsiklis (Ward 2) and Bachynski supported the motion.

City manager Niki Anderson explained that the work wouldn’t be absorbed if the motion passed.

Anderson also said the work is currently done in the city’s human resources department and that there is one full-time employee assigned to EDI within the entire organization.

Swimming surcharges for non-residents

Council voted to table a motion brought forward by Burton that would issue yearly surcharges on non-Regina residents for registering for City of Regina swim programs or facility passes.

An exemption would be made for non-residents who qualify for the city’s accessibility and affordability pass.

The motion also seeks to extend priority registration for residents from two days up to one week.

It was tabled until the third quarter of this year.

Burton said he wanted to give greater priority to Regina residents saying they’re the ones paying taxes for the services.

“There’s always going to be some friction between various municipal entities and some people might be worried that we get some surcharges back, I will suggest that Regina provides the lionshare of facilities and amenities in the region,” Burton said.

He added that he felt the city was being taken advantage of.

Bachynski acknowledged the backlog for swimming lessons but outlined a lack of facilities as the root cause for the issue, which he said could be addressed in part by the planned indoor aquatic centre.

Bachynski also didn’t want to risk jeopardizing the city’s relationship with some of its regional partners.

“I would rather go from a positive aspect – let’s build those relationships and figure out how we work together with them rather than put a punitive fee in that regard,” Bachynski said.

The surcharge would be $25 for an individual and $50 for a family.

City administration said only 10 per cent (10,000) of registrants are from out of town for Regina’s recreational programs. Out of all the family passes sold last year, 211 were sold to families with out-of-town addresses.

1,596 were sold to individuals with out-of-town addresses.

Administration said this is an idea it’s considered before, but it doesn’t envision it having a large economic impact based on current data.

Administration also said it can be difficult to verify the addresses of residents.