Winnipeg, MB - In an effort to continue providing services that Winnipeggers rely upon while keeping taxes among the lowest among major Canadian cities, the City of Winnipeg 2014 Preliminary Operating Budget proposes $20.6 million in savings and efficiencies. These efficiencies include:
- Implementing mandatory, unpaid leave for City employees providing non-essential services for 3.5 days between Christmas Eve Day and New Year’s Eve in 2014, for savings of $1.5 million
- Reducing management and public service positions in the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers (including exempt positions), for annualized savings of $2 million
- Conducting Alternative Service Delivery review to find more efficient ways to deliver City services, for budgeted savings of $2.4 million
- Managing vacant jobs within the City, for savings of $14.1 million
- Reducing Councillors’ Representation Allowances by $37,000 per ward, for savings of $555,000
The Preliminary Operating budget proposes $967.8 million of tax supported investments in the services and programs Winnipeggers rely on every day. These cost-saving measures mean that the City of Winnipeg is able to avoid an additional property tax increase of 3.5 per cent, over and above the 2.95 per cent increase proposed in the budget, for a total of 6.45 per cent that would have been necessary in the absence of cost-cutting measures.
The 2014 Budget builds on the City’s long-term plan to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens by renewing our infrastructure, focusing on core services, and building communities through parks and recreation.
Investing in citizens’ priorities ensures that Winnipeg continues to be a great place to live, work and play, now and in the future.
For more information on the 2014 Budget, please visit City of Winnipeg - 2014 Budget