3.9% tax increase proposed in City of Regina budget

Get out your wallets Regina — taxes are set to rise.

City officials have released the preliminary 2016 budget and a 3.9 per cent property tax increase is among the measures being proposed.

If it gets final approval, the change would mean the owner of a typical home worth $300,000 will pay $2,556 in civic taxes next year — an increase of $95.88.

In addition to its preliminary operating budget, the city also released a capital budget and a water and sewer budget.

Water and sewer charges are set to go up 6 per cent, which works out to $8.25 a month or about $100 a year for a typical four-person family with a dishwasher, two bathrooms and a washing machine.

Spending plan for 2016 set out

In addition to proposed tax and utility rate increases, the budget includes details on how the city will be spending taxpayers' money: everything from road-building to recreation centres.

Among the items contained in the documents:

• 3.9 per cent tax increase includes 1 percentage point for special spending on residential roads.
• $24.1 million for street, sidewalk and bridge renewal work.
• $9.1 million for winter road maintenance.
• Police portion of budget will add eight new constables.
• "Stadium tax" increases, in accordance with 10-year schedule (0.45 per cent increase in 2016 is included in overall 3.9 per cent increase).
• $5.7 million in recreation facilities, playgrounds and parks.
• Work continues on Regina's new stadium.
• Work continues on the sewage treatment plant.
• City council will have final say on the budget. A special meeting will be held on Dec. 7 to discuss possible amendments.