Regina, province still butting heads on funding shortfall
Regina Mayor Michael Fougere and provincial Finance Minister Kevin Doherty continue to disagree and butt heads on how a funding shortfall should be made up by the City of Regina.
Faced with a $1.3 billion deficit from the last year, Doherty said they are asking municipalities to contribute less than three per cent, or about $33 million. He said they’re asking everyone in the province to backfill the financial hole.
“I keep hearing the mayors saying that we’re balancing the budget on the backs of municipalities. I just think that’s an overblown reaction with respect to asking them for 2.5 per cent of covering that deficit,” said the minister.
Fougere has insisted he’s not in favour of the city dipping into its reserves to pay off the financial hole, reiterating that Monday night during a meeting about the budget.