REGINA — The Regina Public Library (RPL) has had to delay progress on the Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP).
The project has been in the works for 17 years, as the current central branch is dealing with aging infrastructure and constant repairs.
In 2024, the city committed $92 million to $119 million in debt financing for CLRP. However, on Wednesday during city council, Daren Anderson, City of Regina chief financial officer, said council decided to commit money without debt room, with other projects also being considered for debt.
“It didn’t give a time, a scope or anything [for the CLRP],” he noted.
Other members of current council who were around in 2024 recalled having enough debt funding for the Indoor Aquatics Facility (IAF) and CLRP.
“I don’t recall administration at that time flagging the concern that you’re raising,” said Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak.
Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli said the city applied for debt room for both the IAF and CLRP in 2024, but admitted a change in city leadership and priorities led to the current dilemma.
A minimal amount of debt room isn’t available now until 2030 ($39 million), caused by the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade to its five-year capital projects during the 2026 budget deliberations, said Anderson.
Council debated its Official Community Plan (OCP) in February, which identified a lack of wastewater capacity to expand the city outward.
This news caused the RPL to pause its request for proposals (RFP) for a developer for the CLRP in January.
Administration recommended the RPL amass funding through an annual 5.5 per cent dedicated mill rate for the CLRP, which board chair Marj Gavigan said would mean the new branch wouldn’t open until at least 2040.
“And there is no guarantee a special mill rate would be approved every year,” she noted.
If approved each year, the dedicated mill rate would generate $31 million by 2031.
Gavigan said the delay could also force Regina Public Library to close its current central branch, leaving downtown without a community hub for arts and film for 14 years.
The report will direct administration to bring the matter back to the audit and finance committee at its March meeting with a scenario in which Canada Housing Infrastructure funding is approved, for council’s consideration in the second quarter of 2026.
Ward 3 Coun. David Froh presented a referral motion that will allow council to review future capital projects requiring debt that have not yet been funded.
This report will be presented at the March 25 council meeting.
Administration was also tasked with providing council a report in the third quarter of 2026 on future projects requiring debt.
Mayor Chad Bachynski said it’s an opportunity to learn from the situation.
“They’re clearly some lessons learned we can learn in terms of how we communicate the information we have.”
From his perspective, Bachynski wants to focus on the present.
“The math is the math, and the reality of the situation is what it is.”
