The RPL budget for 2027 and 2028 is now available. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/annual-reporting Please review re finances and for descriptions of RPL’s many good programs. It is easy to read.
City agenda at https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx
See Executive Committee Wed. Oct. 21, 2026 Agenda Packet pages 15 to 35, has budget and also includes City Admin referral.
Meeting starts at 9 am. RPL is first on the agenda.
The meeting will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide comments. And hear City Council’s questions for RPL. These discussions at Executive Committee are usually more detailed than those at the City’s budget meeting.
A written presentation is not required in advance. But anyone wishing to speak or send a written statement will still have to register by completing the online form https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/register-to-address-committee-council/ Deadline to register is no later than 12 p.m. on the Monday the 19th For assistance, contact the City Clerk at 306-777-7262.
EX26-107 2027 Budget Submission – Regina Public Library
Recommendation That the Executive Committee refer the 2027 mill rate requests as submitted by the Regina Public Library (RPL) to the December 7, 2026 City Council budget deliberations.
From City Admin report:
For 2027, the RPL is requesting a mill rate increase of 3.99 per cent for general operations, which is an increase of $0.82 per month or $9.89 per year for the average homeowner.
The RPL is also requesting a mill rate increase of 11.00 per cent which is dedicated to raising the funds needed to cover the projected costs of the Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP). This represents an increase of $2.27 per month or $27.24 per year for the average homeowner.
For 2028, the RPL is requesting approval in principle of an operational mill rate increase of 4.04 per cent and a CLRP mill rate increase of 11.00 per cent. It is important to note that to raise sufficient funds for the CLRP, the RPL is planning for a dedicated mill rate increase of 11.00 per cent per year for the next nine years, 2027 to 2035.
Excerpts From RPL budget
Request for Central Library Renewal
In March 2026 Regina City Council voted against debt funding for Central Library Renewal (CLR). With that in mind, in order to save up the entire funds for the project, Regina Public Library is requesting a CLR related mill rate increase of 11% for 2027 and 2028 – equivalent to about a 1% increase in the City’s mill rate. This is equivalent to a $2.27 increase per month for the average homeowner (calculated based on the City’s average residential assessed value of $324,000).
A mill rate increase of 11% every year is estimated to allow RPL to save enough funds for a new central library by 2035. The previous plan for an annual 5.5% mill rate increase was based on the assumption that this mill rate increase would be used to make debt payments over 30 years, not save up for the entire capital cost. However, since it is unlikely the City will take on debt for the library, the new plan assumes the library will save up the full capital cost. In order to consider affordability to taxpayers, we created a reasonable mill rate request for Central Library by extending our expectations for a new library from five years to ten.
Central Library Development Reserve
The balance in this reserve at the end of 2025 is $18.6M. This reserve is needed to fund a new central library and helps reduce any debt that is needed and minimizes mill rate request for this project.
Transfers to Reserves
Funding will be earmarked for future projects across the library system. One of the largest transfers to reserves in 2027 is the allocation of property tax revenue, interest income, and donations transferred to the Central Library Development Reserve to save for a future new central library.
A second large transfer will go to the Branch Library Development reserve, which has been allocated $1.46 million to continue building funds to move forward with the Service Points and Branch Renewal plan. It is important to note that this transfer still will not be enough to meet the investment need related to branches and service points.
Our Strategic Plan
In 2025, RPL’s Board of Directors finalized a new strategic plan to guide our work from 2026 to 2028. Led by RPL’s Board of Directors, the new plan is guided by our aspiration, mission, 10-year vision, values, and strategic imperative. The new plan is available on our website. Our budget is developed with our Strategic Plan as a key focus.
