Regina city council has passed next year's budget. It includes a property tax increase that means the owner of the average home (assessed at $350,000) will pay about $67 more.

Overall, operating expenses and revenue are projected to be $472 million, up $16 million from 2019.

Administration pitched a 3.25 per cent property tax increase, and that's what city council approved after several hours of debate Friday.

The average homeowner would also pay an extra $50 per year for a three per cent increase in utility rates.

The city manager said the increase is the lowest in a decade. The last year without a property tax increase in Regina was 2009.

Part of the increase will be used to pay for Mosaic Stadium.

New this year is the recently-announced Recreation Infrastructure Program, already approved by council. The city said this will bring in $7 million by 2024 and will ensure recreational projects — like pools — can be maintained and prioritized.

Currently, city administration is projecting a $6.5 million surplus, which would go into the general reserve funds, taking it to $23.9 million.

Budget deliberations began on Monday and continued Tuesday, when Council approved the budget for the Regina Police Service, the City's single biggest expense. The service requested $96 million, just under a $4 million hike over the $92 million budget last year.

The budget has laid out $73 million for internal services and administration, $55 million for parks and recreation, $55 million for contributions to capital, $44 million for fire fighting, $40 million for transit and $34 million for waste. The rest of the budget will go toward city planning, investments and debt.