The City of Regina is proposing a 4.18 per cent property tax increase for 2017.

The preliminary budget released Thursday includes a 3.18 per cent mill rate increase, and an additional one per cent hike for fixing residential streets.

The city says an average homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 will pay an extra $8.48 a month in property taxes, excluding the education portion.

Homeowners would also pay higher water and sewer utility rates. The proposed budget includes a five per cent increase on March 1, and another five per cent hike on Jan. 1, 2018. According to the city, the average homeowner would pay $7.52 more each month in 2017.

The preliminary budget calls for a $2.6 million increase in capital spending, bringing the total to $42.9 million.

Other allocations in the proposed budget include:

• Roadway network improvements including $7.5 million for residential streets, $18 million for major arterial streets and $6 million to renew bridges.

• A record investment of $9.3 million for snow clearing.

• Regina Police Service operating funds of $84.5 million.

• Fire and Protective Services operating funds of $42.6 million.

• Funding of $3.7 million to provide operating grants to organizations such as Mobile Crisis Services and Carmichael Outreach, and one-time funding for significant cultural events, including Canada Day and National Aboriginal Day.

• Transit and paratransit enhancements including $8.3 million to replace 13 transit and six paratransit buses, as well as $2.9 million for bus shelters, service and technology improvements. The program enhancements leverage 50 per cent funding from the federal government through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

City council will consider the proposed budget at a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in Henry Baker Hall at City Hall. Residents with budget-related comments can appear as delegations to council by filing a written brief with the Office of the City Clerk no later than noon, Tuesday, Feb. 7. Submissions will be made public on Regina.ca on Friday, Feb. 10.

For information on preparing a submission, visit Regina.ca or contact the Office of the City Clerk at 306-777-7262.