REGINA, Sask. — It’s an outline of changes needed to deliver existing city services for 2027.
According to a report, Regina’s city council will discuss the preliminary forecast for service enhancements on Tuesday, which totals more than $9 million in expenses.
SaskToday broke down the top possible service enhancements in the 2027 budget.
Concrete Distress Program Enhancements
The city has outlined potentially investing $1.3 million to increase its capacity to repair deteriorating sidewalks across Regina.
City administration notes aging infrastructure, freeze-thaw conditions and years of limited funding have created a growing backlog, with the city currently unable to complete as many repairs as identified through inspections.
The additional funding would increase repair capacity through contracted services, helping address the annual shortfall and prevent the backlog from continuing to grow.
Further investment in the program would improve public safety and accessibility while also helping reduce potentially higher repair costs in the future, according to the city.
Accessibility Plan
Regina is proposing its accessibility plan receive more than $1 million in service enhancements, with $28,000 offset by additional revenue.
As outlined by administration, increasing funding would support sidewalk snow clearing, snow removal at transit stops, accessibility training, a supported employment program and extended transit service during evening hours.
The increased funding would more closely align with the requirements in the plan approved by council in 2024.
Investing in accessibility would help remove barriers and improve access to municipal infrastructure, programs and services for people with disabilities and older adults, the report says.
City Centre winter maintenance and cleaning
An allocation of $889,000 in enhancement funding for maintenance and cleaning is being considered for select areas in Regina, including downtown, the Warehouse District and portions of Cathedral and North Central.
The increase would focus on sidewalk sweeping, waste collection, tree watering, snow clearing, ice control, etc.
According to the city, clearing newly refurbished areas, including Dewdney Avenue and 11th Avenue, would be overseen by the municipality.
Further investments in the program would support businesses and accessibility and help protect upgraded infrastructure.
New transit
As Regina’s second Costco gets closer to completion, the city is looking to spend $433,000 on a new bus service in the area. The cost is partially offset by the expected $41,000 in revenue.
The new service would require five full-time positions.
Additionally, the city is looking to add more evening service on routes 3, 18 and 7 beginning in fall 2027.
For this year, the potential transit service increase would result in $455,000 in expenses, with $36,000 in expected revenue offsetting the cost, bringing the net expense to $419,000.
In the future, a full year of expanded service would result in more than 10,000 additional service hours and $1.09 million in yearly expenses.
