3.9% tax increase proposed in City of Regina budget

Get out your wallets Regina taxes are set to rise.

City officials havereleasedthe 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 taxesnext year an increase of $95.88.

In addition to its preliminaryoperating budget, the city also releaseda capital budget and a water and sewer budget.

Water and sewer charges are set to goup 6 per cent, which works out to$8.25 a monthor about $100 a yearfor a typical four-person family with a dishwasher, two bathroomsand a washing machine.

Spending plan for 2016 set out

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

Among the items containedin the documents:

• 3.9 per cent tax increase includes 1percentage point for special spending onresidential roads.
• $24.1 million forstreet, sidewalk and bridge renewal work.
• $9.1 millionfor winter road maintenance.
• Police portion of budget will addeightnew constables.
• "Stadium tax"increases, in accordance with10-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 onthe 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.