Big projects with big price tags central to Regina municipal election campaigns

When Regina residents headto the polls on Wednesday, many will be voting with one central question in mind: what should city council be spending money on?

It's a question echoed in the platforms of mayoral candidates, who have committed to "financial responsibility," "financial accountability" and "infrastructure renewal."

It runs through advertisements from third-party organizations asking for tax freezes and an end to "pet projects" like a $245-million indoor aquatic facility.

It's why many of the candidates 53total for 10councillor spotsand 11 for mayor chose to put their name forward.

It's alsowhyformer mayor Pat Fiacco emerged from aself-imposedexile from municipal politicsto weigh in and endorse mayoral candidate Lori Bresciani.

"We take care of pipes. That's what municipal governments do. [Pipes], pavement and parks, those are the three fundamentals," Fiacco said last week.

Fiacco's endorsement appears to be a rejection of the path set by incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters, who is perceived by opponents, judging from their messaging, to be recklessly spending money the city cannot afford.

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Inflation, tax increases and debt financing

For the past four years, council has debated aseries of potential large infrastructure projects.

As the city has looked at how to afford those projects a new central library branch, a new indoor aquatic facilityand a multitude of upgrades to infrastructure like wastewater and roadways it has settled on debt financing.

WATCH |Regina mayoral candidates tell us their No. 1 issue:

Regina mayoral candidates tell us their No. 1 issue

6 days ago

Duration 8:05

Eight Regina mayoral candidates stopped by the Morning Edition to talk about their visions for the next four years. Three other candidates did not choose to participate in the video. Residents will vote for mayor, councillors and school board trustees on Nov. 13.

Regina is currently waiting for a decision from the Saskatchewan Municipal Board on its request to increase its debt limitto $890 million from $660 million. The $230-million increase would help the city pay for projects like the indoor aquatic facility.

Some residents and candidates view those projects as a waste of money. Others, like incumbent councillor Bob Hawkins, have called them necessary investments.

For example, the Regina Public Library has insisted it cannot continue operating the central branch in its existing building. Fixing themultitude of issues including heating, electrical and the roof not being attached to the building's walls would cost nearly as much as a new building, according to the Regina Public Library.

That's why councilalready approved between$92 million and $119 million in debt financing for the planned project.

Aproperty tax increaseto help pay off the debt from those projects is not assured, but it is likely.

It's also opposed by multiple candidates, includingBresciani.

"Taxpayers of Regina are tired of just saying, 'just put it on the tax. Put it on the tax roll.' No, we have to do better," she said.

Despite complaints from many council and mayoral candidates that the city's tax rate has skyrocketed during the past four years with very little to show for it, the reality is more complicated.

Cities are not immune to the inflation of thepast four years.The Bank of Canada's inflation calculator puts the nation's inflation rate from 2021 to 2024 at 12.27 per cent.

The city's mill rate increases over the sameperiod total 12.26 per cent.That means that although the city is collecting more tax money, its purchasing power with that money is essentiallythe same as four years ago.

Indoor Aquatic facility

Inflation has also played a role inanother topicdominating discussion during this election campaign.

Only one of the major infrastructure projects a new aquatic facility is anywhere close to being started and it took almost the entire term of council to get it across the line.

Replacethe aging Lawson poll was a key promise in Masters's successful 2020 mayoral run and it remains something she is committed to completing.

"The Lawson has been a foundational piece ofcivic infrastructure and public enjoyment for 50 years. Our job is to ensure the next 50 years," she said.

The new aquatic facility was originally approved by council in 2023 with a budget of $160.7 million.

The price tag has since climbed by $85 million to a total of $245 million. A city staff report laid out how $40.5 million is the result of design scope clarity and $44 million was the result of inflation.

The new indoor aquatic facility is still set to go ahead and has an approved budget. It wouldbe the first indoor pool built by the City of Regina since 1990.

But any decision of council can be changed or modified by a future vote. That means it's not too late to revisit the project, something that some candidates for mayor andcouncilbelieve is necessary.

Bresciani already tried and failed to explore other options at the final meeting of council and has promised to try again ifelected as mayor.

"I think we have to consider all of the options," she said last week.

Other candidates and third-party advertisers have latched on to the price tag of the project, calling for it to be scrapped entirely. That messaging is at odds withreporting from City of Regina staff.

The existing aquatic facility is decades out of date and,at best,is estimated to have five more years left in its operational lifespan.

As one resident told council, the Lawson's reputation has been dismalamong the swimming and diving community since the "2014 chlorine gas incident," a reference to when operations at the facility were disrupted by air quality concerns.

Upgradesto keep the Lawsonopen, but not improve its accessibility or offerings, are likely to cost more than $60 million, according to staff.

Those factors do not even address the fact that the $128 million in federal and provincial funding tied to the project require it to be built in the already-settled location of the Taylor Field Lands. That's due to a companion geothermal heating system.

Staff have said delaying the project further, changing the scope or design, or shifting its location could put that $128 million in jeopardy.

Masters has portrayed her efforts as making up for poor planning under past administrations, including former mayor Fiacco.

"I think the fact that we didn't start planning for it and preparing for it in 2009 has cost the taxpayers of the City of Regina millions of dollars. So if we would like to cost them millions more, I suppose we can wait," said Masters.