Homeowners will be reaching into their pockets again next year to support a 2.95 percent city-wide property tax increase.
Officials say one percent will go towards Winnipeg’s local street renewal program, another one percent to establish a new regional street renewal reserve, and .95 percent to cover inflation costs.
“A main priority is repairing and maintaining city streets,” said Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz. “Why are we doing this? Our roads are in a crisis situation.”
The city expects to spend 25 million dollars more in 2014, than it did in 2013.
The proposed budget was released Friday.
The city says the property tax increase amounts to just $45 more on a home assessed at $262,780. But it still means Winnipeggers have seen their property tax increase by 6.82 percent over the last two years.
Property taxes make up almost half of the $967,765,686 revenue expected to flow into city coffers next year.
Forty-four percent of Winnipeg’s expenditures are paid to the Police and Fire Paramedic services.
The Provincial Government’s one percent increase to the PST is also costing the city another one million, per year.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
It will cost Winnipeggers more to be buried next year, with the average burial increasing by approximately $200, and cremations by $25. (Costs vary depending on location and size)
SAVINGS
The city is proposing 1.5 million in savings by introducing a mandatory unpaid leave of 3.5 days for all city employees over the 2014 Christmas period. The city is still negotiating with its union on this matter.
“What’s going to happen?” said Mike Davidson, the CUPE Local 500 president. “Are our arenas going to shut down? Is 311 going to shut down?. These are all questions that citizens have a right to know.”
Ten coordinator and community development positions at a handful of community centers will be reduced to five. The city hopes to cut another 20 positions with the Winnipeg Association for Professional through retirement or attrition.
Another $14.1 million in savings will be made by not filling approximately 175 management positions.
Elected officials will be “giving back” $37,000 of the $78,000 representation allowance paid to each ward, per year. Last year council voted to increase that allowance by $40,000, but are now returning that ‘raise’, save inflation.
FURTHER INVESTMENT
The City is also looking to build three new recreational facilities over the next 11 years. The 140 million dollar investment is contingent on cost-sharing between the city, the province and the YMCA-YWCA.
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