It's that special time of the year when the Bureau turns its mind to things budgetary! But first! We got a visit from fellow community-media denizen, Jayne Trimble, of the Empower Women show on AccessNow TV. Then, we look at this year's delightfully passive aggressive budget powerpoint. And! Clr Rashovich asked what a 5% budget REDUCTION would look like, and it's not good. Not good at all. Music by Guidewire (aka Ryan Hill) and Kimberley Fuery. Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR AccessNow community radio.

City of Regina's Chief Financial Officer, Daren Anderson, found his way into the subbasement so we quizzed him about the 2026 budget and money stuff like that. If you're freaking out about the possibility of a 13.56% mill rate increase, this is not the show for you. Or maybe it is. Maybe you like to freak out over mill rates. We also talk about reserve funds. And wood! You should buy some now before they're all gone. Theme by Ryan Hill (aka Guidewire). Incidental music by Kimberley Fuery. Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR AccessNow community radio.

After a decade in the subbasement, we escape to the Artesian stage for Halloween + Anniversary show — a Hallowversary show! We are joined by zombie expert Cassie Ozog, the risen corpse of Carter Stenberg, un-councillor Andrew Stevens and city hall nerd Jacq Brasseur.

This podcast is the full, unedited version of our live show and includes the Halloween costume portion which will require you using your imagination to picture all the awesome outfits.

Huge thanks to Neil, Jo and Ethan for working behind the scenes to make all this happen. And gigantic thanks to everyone who showed up (on a world series night, no less) to participate in the shenanigans.

Performed on the Artesian on 13th stage then broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio. Theme music by Ryan Hill (aka Guidewire). Incidental music by Kimberley Fuery.

On this week's meeting agenda:

• Aidan escaped the sub-basement and caught a showing of The Master Plan at the newly renovated Globe Theatre.

• Admin has been talking for months about how they changed the city's Design Standards so that new residential roads will be wider. How did that happen? When did that happen? Why did that happen? We have the backstory on that.

• Really good news from the Housing Accelerator front! Yay!

• Economic Development Regina presented their 2026 budget to city council. It did not go well.

• The Regina Public Library also presented their 2026 budget to city council. It didn't go great either but at least it went better than EDR's.

• The Queen City Improvement Bureau's Halloween-adjacent 10th Anniversary LIVE Show is coming up October 29, 7pm at the Artesian on 13th!

• The mayor made a big funding announcement for downtown.

Note: Apologies for how Paul's voice sounds like a gravel quarry that's smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 35 years. The doctors say there's nothing modern medicine can do to speed up his vocal recovery and the satanic rituals have not helped.

Council has been over achieving on at least one metric this week: number of meetings held. So, to find out if Aidan is an AI Chatbot or not, we quiz him to see if he can puzzle out some of the wacky things that have been going during all this extra meeting time. Plus, we premiere our radio documentary: Queen City Parking Cops. Thanks to parking supervisor Harwinder Singh and Jason Weitzel from Parking Services for taking part. Music by Ryan Hill (aka Guidewire). Occasional music by Kimberley Fuery. Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio.

The city's Manager Of Housing, Bill Neher, visits the sub basement to talk about the Finding Middle Ground Design Competition, how the Housing Accelerator Fund program is going and he also gives us an update on the North Central Community Land Trust. The Bureau also looks at council's new budget process and how the Smart Investments In A Sustainable Regina Motion went. Theme by Guidewire (aka Ryan Hill) with incidental music by Kimberly Fuery. Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio.

Ward 3 councillor Shanon Zachidniak visits the subbasement to talk about her "Smart Investments for a Sustainable Regina" motion. Also discussed during this Very Serious Meeting: Changes to the budget process, Electrical buses!, What's up with that big borrowing meeting?, How's HAF doing? and an update on the free transit for highschool kids pilot program. Theme by Ryan Hill (aka Guidewire). Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio.

Ward 3 councillor David Froh visits the subbasement to discuss the his successful motion to establish a Municipal Grasslands Biodiversity Reserve on a chunk of land by the Callie Curling Club. Also on the agenda: houselessness, encampment strategy, REAL and downtown revitalization. Theme by Ryan Hill (aka Guidewire). Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio.

Back from summer hiatus, the Bureau examines council discussion of the Renewable Regina update (which, spoilers, is not great). The Bureau also plays a round of "Can Council Make Aidan's Head Explode?" Theme by Guidewire (aka Ryan Hill). Originally broadcast on 91.3FM CJTR, AccessNow community radio.