Tag Archives: Budget

RPL budget to Exec Ctte Oct 15

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.”

RPL Budget to Exec Ctte

UPDATE: FRPL submission to Executive Committee meeting of Feb. 5, 2025

FRPL to Exec Ctte re RPL budget Feb 3, 2025 – Final

Feb. 2, 2025 : The Regina Public Library budget for 2025 has been released

It will be discussed at the City Council Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 5th at 9 am

Register Monday Feb. 3rd by12 noon to speak. Also send in written presentation / letters by then to have them included in the meeting notes, even if you do not wish to speak.

City Committee meetings list with Agendas – scroll down to the Feb 5 date.
https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx

For Library Budget see pages 48 to 75 of Agenda Packet for Executive Committee meeting on Feb 5.

To present to City Council/Committee regarding an agenda item, you must submit a request by completing the online form or calling 306-777-7262 for assistance with your registration request. See details at https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx

Written submissions helpful but not required at Executive Committee.

Final Library Budget Approval in March

Other presentations can be made at Council in March. But saying something now influences the decisions.

Budget discussions in March will be held between the 17th and 19th, date for Library budget discussion to be confirmed. Advance notice with a written submission will be required to make a presentation.

Library budget is very informative, mostly a discussion of goals, recent achievements, and hopes for the year ahead. Plus some budget information tables.
But needs to be read to see what they are hoping to do, what they are leaving out, what you agree with. Contains a discussion of “Central Renewal”.
RPL is asking for an increase in its mill rate of 4.58 %, PLUS an addition 5.5 % each year over 5 years to add to funds for “Central Renewal”.

City Council cannot change details of the budget. BUT Council has control in that it can approve or disapprove the increase in the mill rate, or any part thereof, requested by the Library. Council can ask to have the mill rate reduced, or have it increased if Council feels it is not adequate to meet needed expenses. (This is what happened in 2004 when the RPL was asked to increase its budget request to avoid library branch closures.) But Council can ask questions at the meetings and have discussions behind the scenes with the RPL.

Your diversity of ideas, praises and criticisms are helpful. Pass them on to FRPL, or send directly into the Executive Committee meeting or City Council Budget meetings AND your City Councillor.

Note that the City Council motion to support a loan to RPL for up to $119 Million, passed on July 9, 2024, will not be a part of the mill rate vote. Any changes to that motion must come through a Motion to Reconsider by City Councillors. The funds will not be disbursed to the RPL until requested at a later date.

City approves $119 debt for Central “renewal”

Rather that deferring the decision until all City  possible loan requests could be balanced out as City Administration had suggested, on July 9th City Council voted to immediately approve the RPL’s request for a loan guarantee of $92 to $119 million for the “renewal” of Central Library

The agenda with Administration’s recommendation.  https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=5085&Inline=True

Minutes with motion actually passed.  https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=3282&Inline=True :

Councillor Bob Hawkins moved, seconded by Councillor John Findura, that City Council1. Commit $92 million to $119 million in debt financing for the Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP); and

2. Approve, in principle, a dedicated Library mill rate increase of 5.5 per cent each year for five years starting in 2025 to allow RPL to accumulate funds in a reserve account until such time as they can be used for the CLRP.  (Councillors Bresciani, Nelson and Stadnichuk voted against the motion.)

CBC article https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-city-council-preview-central-library-financing-1.7258447  Global https://globalnews.ca/news/10613693/regina-city-council-approves-central-library-debt-financing/ CTV https://regina.ctvnews.ca/our-city-deserves-this-council-approves-funding-for-regina-central-library-renewal-1.6957227 Leader Post https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/city-hall/city-council-grants-at-least-92m-in-debt-guarantee-for-central-library-renewal
RPL media release https://central.reginalibrary.ca/city-council-approves-debt-financing

    RPL claimed that there couldn’t be additional storeys or a western tower structure because of the need for pillars or an outside superstructure, but has never released a report by engineers or architects to prove their claim.
    RPL is going ahead with debt-inducing plans for Central without having an overall plan for other branches or for library services for underserved or expanding areas of the city.
   The knowledge of the RPL and City Councillors about what protecting the heritage of Central Library would mean seemed to be very limited compared to current standards of architectural preservation.

Thanks to the public delegates with their valuable and passionate presentations. https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3282&Inline=True

Central at City Council June 26, 1 pm – postponed

City Council ran out of time, so the Library discussion was postponed until the next (July 17) or a specially arranged City Council meeting.

___________________________________________________________________

CENTRAL LIBRARY IS ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW !
Go down in person, listen online or watch on Cable Regina (Channel 7 or 70).  The Council meeting starts at 1:00 pm.
Click on the red banner across the top of this page to watch online  https: //reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx

The RPL’s $119M loan request will be discussed under item “CR24-74 Central Library Renewal Project Debt Financing Report”. Agenda https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=5069&Inline=True

A number of people and organizations have submitted letters and will be presenting. Some for building a new bigger library. Others like FRPL calling for a rehabilitation and expansion of the current building, some calling for rehabilitation only. (See the letters submitted here under Delegates .https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3280&Inline=True )
FRPL’s presentation. FRPL to City re RPL Central Debt Financing, June 24, 2024 – final

As recommended by the City Administration, Executive Committee, City Council decision will vote on June 26, (1) to defer the decision on the $19M loan for RPL. (2) But to approve a mill rate increase to save money for the “renewal” project.

 

City Council will vote on the following:

Recommendation That City Council:

1. Defer a decision to commit $92 million to $119 million in debt financing for the Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP), and direct Administration to return to City Council by the end of Quarter 3 2024, with a recommendation regarding debt financing for the CLRP taking into consideration updated debt financing needs for other capital projects including the Indoor Aquatics Facility/Geothermal Project (IAF), Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion and the City of Regina’s (City) overall debt financing capacity; and

2. Approve, in principle, a dedicated Library mill rate increase of 5.5 per cent each year for five years starting in 2025 to allow RPL to accumulate funds in a reserve account until such time as they can be used for the CLRP.

Full City Council Agenda with detailshttps://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=5069&Inline=True
City Administration’s discussion of Library request: pages 170-179
RPL submission – pages 189-189, details of the request for Expressions of Interest re consortium partnerships: 190-205
City Administration discussion of debt financing available, timing of when money will be available, mill rates: pages 206-208
RPL wants $ in 2026. City says earliest is 2033 or 2038.

City Council Dates – express your view about $119 M loan

City Council Dates– re agreeing to support $119 million loan for Central Library rebuild (on same site or another location, that has not been decided, tearing down the current building is their main proposed option)

For presentation requirements go to https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/ Agendas are here https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx

You can attend meetings in person or via teleconference or provide a written submission only

Friday – June 14 – in the afternoon – Executive Committee Draft Agenda available

Monday – June 17 – by 12 noon – register to talk to Executive Committee (written presentation not required)

Wednesday – June 19 – 9 am – Executive Committee meets at City Hall

Friday – June 21 – in the afternoon – Draft Agenda for City Council meeting

Monday – June 24 – by 12 noon – written presentation must be sent in to City Council

Wednesday – June 26 – 1:00 pm – City Council meeting

Deadline moved to Mon Dec 12 at 12 noon for RPL budget comments

The deadline for submissions to City Council about the RPL budget has been revised to be Monday Dec. 12 at 12 noon. Send submissions to clerks@regina.ca . You need to say that the letter is for the budget meeting on December 14, 

The info is in the AGENDA PACKET for the City Council Budget meeting on December 14. Go to this webpage, http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx then click on the Dec 14 City Council meeting, the  AGENDA PACKET. It takes a little bit of time to download. The RPL document is pages Pages 430 to 473. Page 134 lists the Library mill rate increases since  2016. 

The budget is mostly a description of RPL previous and planned activities, so reasonably readable.

Please submit your thoughts, no matter how brief, to the City.

RPL budget at City – March 24, 1:00 pm

FRPL has sent in a letter about the RPL budget. https://friendsofrpl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/frpl-to-city-re-rpl-budget-2021-mar-22-2021-final.pdf

We will be making a presentation sometime after 1 pm Wed. Mar 24. To see the budget meeting agenda go to the City website https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/ http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx

RPL Budget at City Hall Dec 9

City Hall will offer its approval or disapproval of the RPL request for a 2.3% increase in its mill rate. FRPL will be making a presentation to City Council about the RPL 2020 budget on December 9, 2019 at 5:30. FRPL is first on the agenda right at 5:30. https://www.regina.ca/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/ The FRPL presentation starts on page 8 of the agenda packet. http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx Also available for download here FRPL to City re RPL budget 2020 – final

The RPL Budget was first discussed by the City at the Executive Committee meeting on November 13 http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx
The RPL budget starts on page 103 of the Agenda Packet for the November 13 meeting of Executive Committee  http://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=3952&Inline=True

Public presentations will be on December 9, City Council will then meet on December 10 to handle motions relate to budget items. So the actual vote on the RPL budget mill rate request may not occur until December 10. This two day process is new to City Council this year.

Two petitions to sign

1. The petition calling for funding cut-backs has regularly been presented in the legislature by MLA Carla Beck.  A copy can be downloaded here https://savesasklibraries.ca/action-centre    Petition_Libraries_2017_03_24    Save Sask Libraries petition instructions Mar 28, 2017

2. The petition calling for a referendum on restoring library funding is well on its way to getting the 125,000 signatures required to legally force a referendum. See the website at http://www.votelibrarypetition.ca/   Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/librarypetition/

VOTE Library Petition  VOTE Petition FAQs   VOTE Library Petition signing instructions

Volunteers are need to assist in this process by collecting signatures at public events.

Update on budget cut action

Thanks to library supporters for all the letter-writing, phone calls, petition signing and attending events. The government is now in the process of reviewing its budget on library funding! There may be Cabinet meetings concerning the budget this weekend – so keep on contacting your MLA!

1. The two RPL sessions on how the budget cuts would affect services in Regina and province-wide were very well attended. Information about the situation affecting the RPL and provincial library services is located at https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/in-the-media

2. The Saskatchewan Library Association has the RPL information, plus other facts, and a good updated list of items that have been in the media. https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/in-the-media

3. The Saskatchewan Library Trustees’ Association also has a position statement, media reports, and responses to the budget cuts from across Canada. http://slta.ca/

4. The movement across Saskatchewan is highlighted on the Save Saskatchewan Libraries (formerly Support Our Saskatchewan Libraries) Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1863999523837974/

5. Actions being taken are at the website https://savesasklibraries.ca/news/