The City of Regina's latest public accounts report, often referred to as the sunshine list, reveals that the municipality spent over $540,000 in severance payments last year following the termination of several high-ranking officials. The report, prepared in accordance with the Cities Act, provides a detailed breakdown of employee remuneration, as well as grants and payments made to contractors and community groups during the 2025 fiscal year.
The city's audit and finance committee reviewed the annual report last week and has forwarded it to city council for discussion at its upcoming meeting on June 10. Here are five key takeaways from the 2025 public accounts report.
1. Top-Paid Officials Are All Former Employees
The three highest-paid public servants in Regina for 2025 all earned over $300,000, but notably, each of them no longer works for the city. Former city manager Niki Anderson tops the list with total remuneration of $460,381, including $245,465 in other payments such as severance. Anderson was terminated at the end of July, despite being hired in 2022 on a five-year contract that was set to expire next year. Her payout is less than the $849,319 received by Chris Holden after his dismissal from the same role in early 2022, but higher than Anderson's own 2024 salary of $317,112.
Next on the list is Roberta Engel, former interim CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), who was paid $343,241 after resigning last spring. Engel had served as interim CEO for over a year following the council's firing of Tim Reid in 2024. Rounding out the top three is former chief of police Farooq Sheikh, who received $306,417 after being fired by the Board of Police Commissioners in October following a misconduct investigation. Sheikh's pay included $276,654 in regular salary and $29,763 in other payments.
2. More Staff Above the $200,000 Threshold
The number of civic employees earning more than $200,000 continued to rise in 2025, reflecting an upward trend over recent years. A total of 29 employees crossed the $200,000 mark, up from 23 in 2024, 18 in 2023, and just 11 in 2022. Among them, nine employees earned over $250,000, compared to five in 2019. Overall, 330 employees earned more than $150,000, representing about 10 percent of the city's total payroll, which covers approximately 2,800 city employees and 600 officer and civilian staff at the Regina Police Service (RPS). Of those 330 high-earning workers, 176 were with RPS.
3. Top 10 Highest-Paid Employees in 2025
The list of the top 10 highest-paid employees for 2025 includes a mix of former and current staff. Here is the full ranking:
- Niki Anderson, former city manager: $460,381
- Roberta Engel, former REAL interim CEO: $343,241
- Farooq Sheikh, former chief of police: $306,417
- Lorilee Davies, current chief of police: $277,999
- Deb Bryden, deputy city manager of city planning: $271,102
- Jennifer Johnson, deputy city manager of communications and Tourism Regina: $265,549
- Kurtis Doney, deputy city manager of city operations: $251,723
- Daren Anderson, chief financial officer: $249,869
- Jim Nicol, acting city manager and city clerk: $244,928
- Shannon Williams, city solicitor: $242,979
Notably, current police chief Lorilee Davies, who became the first female chief of police in Saskatchewan, earned $277,999, placing her fourth on the list.
4. Severance Payouts Reflect Leadership Changes
The substantial severance payments included in the 2025 report highlight significant turnover in the city's top leadership positions. The $540,000-plus in severance costs primarily resulted from the departures of Niki Anderson, Roberta Engel, and Farooq Sheikh. These payouts have drawn attention to the financial implications of terminating high-level contracts, especially as the city continues to manage its budget. The report does not specify the exact breakdown of severance for each individual, but the inclusion of these amounts in the other remuneration category underscores the cost of personnel changes.
5. Public Accounts Report Provides Transparency
The public accounts report is a key tool for transparency, as it discloses not only employee salaries but also grants and payments to external organizations. In 2025, the city provided millions in grants to community groups and contractors, though the report does not single out specific recipients in the summary. The audit and finance committee's review ensures that the financial data is accurate before it is presented to city council. The report will be discussed at the June 10 council meeting, where members may debate the implications of rising salary thresholds and severance costs.
Overall, the 2025 sunshine list reveals a city grappling with leadership churn and increasing compensation for its workforce, particularly within the police service. As Regina continues to grow, these trends are likely to remain a topic of public interest and council scrutiny.
