Regina city council approves reduced REAL budget totalling $11.2M

WATCH: Regina city council approved $11.2 million in grant funding for the Regina Exhibition Association during budget discussions on Tuesday.

Council approved its first item within the city’s operating budget by approving $11.2 million in funding for the Regina Exhibition Association Tuesday.

The approval is a further cut to what REAL brass brought forward to councillors Monday when they presented an amended grant request of $11.5 million.

“The community has a huge concern about REAL,” Ward 7 Coun. Shobna Radons told council. “We do need to make an adjustment. And this does affect our mill rate.”

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Radons was behind the motion to further cut REAL’s budget by an additional $300,000 from what they requested Monday.

“For the first time probably in 10 years, I feel hopeful in regards to where REAL is headed now,” she added.

REAL executive returned to the council chambers to answer more questions.

“Where would that $300,000 come from?” Ward 3 Coun. David Froh asked. “Is it coming from operating funding, capital funding, cash flow, reserve?”

“Maybe there’s an opportunity to work with city administration as to how that reduction gets allocated,” Acting president and CEO Roberta Engel responded. “It’s a fluid motion movement. But right now, I would struggle to firmly state [exactly] where it would come from.”

“[But] it would be either cash flow or operating,” she added.

The grant passed 9 – 2 with Coun. Burton and Coun. Tskilis voting against.

How much to snip?

At times, councillors were at odds at how much to cut.

While Radons' $1.5 million reduction became the ultimate number, two other proposals came forward.

Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli proposed cutting $3.1 million dollars from REAL’s budget.

“This is Regina. It’s a tough town,” he said. “To be an entrepreneur, you got to be tough. And, operating off your ins and outs.”

Mancinelli’s suggestion would have dropped the proposed 8.5 per cent mill rate increase to 7.5 per cent.

“I want REAL [to] succeed,” Mancinelli said. “I’ve seen this council gather for decisions concerning REAL within 24 hours. And should something happen later in the year, I will attend whatever I need to make sure things are solvent and proper.”

Following Mancinelli’s proposal, council went off camera for a private discussion for a short period. When they finished that discussion, he withdrew the idea.

Following Mancinelli’s withdrawal, Ward 2 Coun. George Tskilis himself offered to amend the grant to reduce it only $1.2 million dollars – what REAL submitted as their request Monday.

“[REAL] is telling you they’re trying to appease us,” Tsiklis said. “They’re good people and they’re going to work their butt off.”

“None of the people on that board are pulling a dollar from the taxpayer,” he added.

Tsiklis’ amendment was defeated by a vote.