REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) had mixed reaction to today’s City of Regina budget. A freeze in mill rates was counterbalanced by increased spending and the possibility of a new taxpayer-funded football stadium.

 

“It’s great news that Regina residents won’t face another property tax hike this year,” said CTF Saskatchewan Director Lee Harding. “However, given the extra dollars from the provincial government, taxpayers should have expected no less.”

 

Provincial grants for operations and capital totalled $23.7-million more than last year. Yet, city spending will increase $20.4-million this year, an increase of 8.6 percent over last year’s budget.

“It’s unfortunate that the entire $7.7-million increase in the municipal operating grant was gobbled up entirely by higher wages to ‘retain’ city workers when their benefits are already so generous,” continued Harding.

 

A study released in December by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business showed that Regina’s municipal bureaucrats were paid 6 percent more than their private sector counterparts and 25 percent more when benefits were included.

 

Budget documents confirm this by revealing the city has a $27-million deficit for accumulated vacation, overtime and sick leave. In addition, the city’s pension plans are so generous the city is having a hard time paying for them.

 

“Mayor Fiacco’s inference that a new ‘entertainment complex’ could be announced before the 2010 budget is a large concern,” said Harding. “Given that in a recent newspaper poll only 42 percent of Regina residents supported building a new football stadium, the province and the City of Regina owe it to taxpayers to put forward a formal proposal and to put the stadium question to a referendum during the next civic election.”