Regina considers 50 per cent surcharge for non-resident leisure registration

Non-Regina residents could face higher rates for using the city’s recreational facilities starting next year.

Regina city council will consider implementing a 50 per cent surcharge for registered programs like swimming lessons and arts lessons.

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The idea came from Ward 4 Coun. Mark Burton, who suggested it during budget talks in March.

“It’s really less about the revenue – it’s more about fairness,” Burton said during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting.

“Residents pay taxes to help cover the costs of facilities. In the end, this is not a surcharge to non-residents; it eliminates a discount to non-residents.”

This proposed measure is packaged with the City of Regina’s leisure fee bylaws, which are reviewed every three years to ensure “consistent cost recovery, promote equitable access, and align with evolving community needs,” according to a city administration report.

City administration is recommending a general increase for leisure programs and facilities to keep up with inflation and to standardize fees.

This would mean a four per cent leisure fee increase, for each year, from 2026 to 2028.

“These changes will generate approximately $2.2 million in new revenue over three years supporting stable cost recovery while maintaining affordability for our residents,” read a city report.

Administration said the city will expect to see $41,000 from the surcharge on non-residents.

Golf fees would increase by seven per cent in 2026, five per cent in 2027 and four per cent in 2028.

The City of Regina reviews its leisure fee bylaws every three years. (City of Regina/Screenshot)

“Fees are going up and the users of the facilities do need to cover the costs,” Burton said.

“Inflation came with COVID; it came with some of the other things going on internationally around the world. I would never think of pressuring administration for a fee reduction for the sports that I play – or any other sport when they calculate the costs, and again, we need to cover those costs.”

City administration says residency would be verified through the online application process for the programs in question. Applicants would need to provide their address when applying for programs.

The City of Regina reviews its leisure fee bylaws every three years. (City of Regina/Screenshot)

“It’s our intent to do this for the first time in the summer of 2026. We’re going to need to see what the impact of in-person residency verification is on residents and programs,” said a member of city administration when asked by Burton about the procedure for re-verification in future years.

“But, it’s our intent to ensure that Regina residents have first priority to our registered programs like swimming lessons, and so we will continue to address how to best do this every year. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to be checking every year.”

Council is set to decide on this at next week’s meeting on Oct. 8.