Friends of the Regina Public Library

Write to City Council by noon Mar 23 about debt for Central Library.

Submit to City Council by noon Monday March 23 your letters for submission and presentation if you want to make one, https://www.regina.ca/…/register-to-address-committee…/

The Full Agenda listing City Admin suggestions for RPL options for the Central Library project. See pages 130 to 149 of the March 25 Full Agenda PDF. https://www.regina.ca/…/agendas-and-meeting-documents/

3 levels of options for RPL are suggested. starting page 139
for Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP)

1. As part of RPL’s 2027 Budget, it could request, save and invest a library mill rate to cover the cost of CLRP. The following are a few examples of what RPL could request.

a. continue to collect the extra 5.5% dedicated mill rate.

b. ask for for a larger annual dedicated library mill rate e.g. 10% or 20% .

c. submit capital plans to renovate its existing main library building using current reserve ($18.5 million) and the funds generated from the dedicated 5.5 % library mill rate to date.

d. include a limit of $51.2 million (Table 12 below) total project costs (estimated cash savings through dedicated mill rates plus RPL’s reserve) in its Request For Proposal (RFP).

2. As part of RPL’s 2027 Budget, it could request the City acquire debt for CLRP and a corresponding dedicated library mill rate to cover the debt servicing costs.

a. The available debt room be used for City infrastructure priority 1 projects estimated at $764 million as outlined in Table 6 above

b. Direct Administration to request a $120 million increase to the debt limit that would be used exclusively for the CLRP.

3. RPL could seek donations, apply for grants and consider where it could charge for services to fund the CLRP.

Other options

a. Consider other grants from Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) – The City monitors and applies for grants when appropriate. The CIB does not issue grants, as it is a financial services organization that provides debt financing. The City has been in contact with CIB and plans to work with them for the debt for the Northwest Regional Lift Station and WWTP.

b. Use capital carryforward – The City has capital carryforward that will be used for existing and future projects. Any capital carryforward no longer required must be returned to source
before it can be allocated to other projects. Administration is planning to provide recommendations as part of its Capital Governance Principles document that will be shared with City Council at its July 28, 2026 meeting, whereby projects that do not begin after two years are cancelled. Administration is planning to complete a detailed review with the intention of providing information in the 2027 capital budget.

c. Cash flow CLRP with City investments and loan money to RPL with interest – The investments are reserve accounts and capital carryforward amounts set aside for designated capital projects or replenishment of assets. Using those funds for other purposes would be irresponsible and risks the City not having funds available for intended purposes when needed. Using cash and investments is only appropriate for short-term funding of projects until a final funding mechanism is put in place.

Best and worst case scenarios are listed for the City’s overall debt.

The City has applied for $90 million in funding from the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) for the Northwest Regional Lift Station, including the trunk Line for the Skywood neighbourhood.

The City anticipates receiving confirmation of grant funding in the summer of 2026. Until a grant amount is confirmed, the full amount of the debt remains as $51.4 million.
The City is expecting to fund $12 million of the project with Housing Accelerator Funding (HAF). This funding source has not yet been approved by City Council. If this funding source is not approved an additional $12 million of debt will be required.
If the City receives more than 15 per cent of the grant amount requested, the amount of the debt required will decrease. The amount of the decrease ranges up to the $51.4 million full amount of debt currently anticipated. If the City receives 15 per cent or less of the amount applied for, the debt requirements
for the project will increase by up to an estimated $5 million. Due to the uncertainty of the grant amount, the original debt amount has been included in the debt limit calculation.

The RPL Budget will be discussed at the City’s Executive Committee on Wed. Oct. 15. The meeting starts at 9 am but the RPL is last on the agenda. These meetings often contain more detailed discussion than occurs at the City Council meetings. It is a chance to put in ideas and get the Councillors thinking.

“If you wish to appear as a delegation, either in person or via teleconference, you must register by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 by completing this form on the City’s website.” “A written brief in advance is not required to present to a Committee.”

Exec Ctte agenda 2025-10-15 Executive Committee – Public Agenda-5461

RPL budget 2026 Budget Submission – Regina Public Library

Also available at City of Regina website (budget presentation is part of Agenda Package) Scroll down for meeting dates. https://reginask.iqm2.com//Citizens/default.aspx?

The City Council will vote on the RPL’s mill rate increase request on Dec. 17, 2025. There will be an opportunity to submit written presentations in advance of the meeting. Usually “The deadline to register to address Council is no later than 12 p.m. on Monday prior to the scheduled meeting …” BUT the timing may change this year as part of new City budget processes. Check the City website for changes. https://reginask.iqm2.com//Citizens/default.aspx?

From the RPL budget document

“The 2026 mill rate increase for regular operations is 3.85% (equivalent to approximately a 0.35% civic mill rate increase) and the 2027 projected mill rate increase is 4.33% (equivalent to approximately a 0.39% civic mill rate increase). After years of low mill rate increases, RPL has had to increase its annual mill rate request to offset the risks created by these low requests and to address mounting inflation and other challenges, such as facilities renewal and other capital. The requested increase for 2026 and 2027 is primarily related to typical increased business costs, such as salaries and benefits, infrastructure upgrades, and additional costs for new technology. RPL will continue to work hard to decrease the impact of its mill rate on Regina taxpayers, while ensuring that we evolve to meet customer and community expectations. 1 Calculated based on the City’s average residential assessed value of $315,000”

“On July 9, 2024, City Council agreed to support the Central Library Renewal project by approving:

1. Debt funding of approximately $92M to $119M, which could be borrowed in portions as needed from 2026 to 2029; and
2. A dedicated Central Library mill rate increase, in principle, of 5.5% each year over five years, starting in 2025. Council agreed the special mill rate would fund some capital costs and pay back debt resulting from the project. In 2026 and 2027, this increase will cost the average homeowner a total of about 96 cents more per month on their property tax bill.”