REGINA - During the first day of Regina’s budget week, delegates presented their concerns to city council.
The first surrounded the Regina Public Library (RPL) and their proposed mill rate increases. The RPL is seeking a 5.5 dedicated mill rate over the next five years for their Central Library Renewal Project.
The 5.5 per cent mill rate would pay off the $92 million to upwards of $119 million in debt financing that city council approved originally back in July.
City council first heard from Jim Holmes, a Regina resident. Holmes expressed disappointment from the library board, which he described as determined to demolish the current central library.
To Holmes' point, RPL has claimed the current central library wasn’t built to last, but there has been no evidence backing that.
A report by KPMG said that "[the] RPL’s ability to deliver highly used and valued community services is at risk in the current physical state of its central facility."
The report later mentioned critical risks for the library that need investment. These include the roof, electrical system and more.
However, it doesn’t mention the library cannot be repaired.
Holmes believes the best solution is to renovate the current central library. By doing this, it won't limit the city's borrowing.
Later on, members of the RPL presented their case for a new central library.
When discussing residents' concerns that the library isn't interested in renewing the current central branch, Mitchel Kolbeck, RPL project leader, noted they aren't dismissing that option.
However, the current central library is around half the space the RPL needs for a successful new branch.
Originally, the RPL said a 150,000 square feet space was required for programming, but reduced that number down to 125,000 square feet through the process with city council.
So, a developer would need a solution providing the space requirement, said Kolbeck.
Even with this option, the RPL has emphasized the benefit of a new central branch for other cities.
For example, Halifax's downtown has seen a boom thanks to its central library built in 2014, including a 34 per cent population growth over a decade in the area.
City council will discuss RPL's request later on during budget week.
General operating fund
Many delegates presented their concerns regarding different issues the city needs to address. One of those is transit for disabled people.
Dylan Morin, a representative of the accessibility advisory committee, asked the city to look into expanding transit on Sundays and holidays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for those who work around those times.
Morin also raised the concern of an increase in paratransit refusal rates. These refusals are typically because of a lack of paratransit service available at certain times.
As Regina resident Joseph Vermeulen noted, residents can only book a paratransit ride at least seven days in advance, which typically are fully booked within a day.
For people like Vermeulen, he cannot rely on taxi services, as he doesn’t have the money for it.
With a growing population in Regina, Vermeulen wants to see an increase in the bus fleet. Meanwhile, Morin is asking the city to push all levels of government to make these changes happen.
Homelessness
Regina has seen an increase in homelessness, according to a Point-in-Time (PIT) count done by the Namerind Housing Co.
In their 2024 report, Namerind counted 824 homeless people, which was a 255 per cent increase from 2021.
Florence Stratton of End Poverty Regina asked city council to allocate $20 million of the operating budget towards constructing affordable housing.
As Stratton pointed out, "houselessness is the cause of people getting addictions, which is the opposite of what people think."
Stratton also emphasized the systematic racism when it comes to those unhoused, as Namerind found 75 per cent of those homeless in their 2024 report to be Indigenous.
Madi Massier, co-director of The Hawk Principal, backed what Stratton said, stating more funding is needed to address homelessness.
Massier said that during their time sheltering people at the Trinity Lutheran Church, there were zero police calls made for safety concerns, yet the Regina Police Service (RPS) continue to receive more funding for added security.
She also pointed out cutting unnecessary funding, including the implementation of the Community Social Impact Regina (CSIR), which was recently approved to be dissolved.
Massier wants more housing for people left out on the street, which she believes will address the root issues Regina faces.
