Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz brought in reinforcements Thursday in his battle with the province over its latest budget.
Sam Katz gathered with 8 other Manitoba mayors and the president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities to denounce the Selinger government’s April 16 budget that raised the provincial sales tax by a point, saying it doesn’t do nearly enough to fund much-needed repairs to crumbling roads and other infrastructure.
“Our citizens are looking for long-term solutions, not patchwork fixes,” Katz is quoted in a news release.
“At some point in time when your road or back lane or your sidewalk is completely deteriorated and it is dangerous to walk on…don’t call any of us, call (the Manitoba Legislature),” said Katz during a news conference Thursday.
No matter how much Katz complains, the premier isn’t budging on his budget.
“We know we are doing the best we can to provide support and he (Sam Katz) is doing his job to provide support,” said Premier Greg Selinger. “Let’s get with making life better for Manitobans and for Winnipeggers.”
On Wednesday Katz held a similar news conference on his own, saying the provincial budget “fails” Winnipeg.
At Thursday’s event, the mayors and AMM say they’ve sent a letter to Premier Greg Selinger asking that one per cent of existing PST be dedicated to municipal infrastructure, over and above what they already receive.
“This Premier has repeatedly told us there is no new money and that they were not elected to raise taxes,” said AMM President Doug Dobrowolski. “Here we are today, taxes are increasing and there is an insignificant amount of new funding for municipalities.”
The Selinger government says the tax increase is meant to make more money available for infrastructure repairs, and flood fighting. But municipalities say what’s being offered is a fraction of what’s needed. The also say the hike in the PST will also cost city and town governments, draining more money away from their budgets.
In the City of Winnipeg’s case, additional PST will amount to an extra $1.4 million annually.
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