Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg City Council today adopted a budget focused on repairing Winnipeg streets and on investing in community parks and recreation, with record investment in local and regional street repair. Council adopted the 2014 Capital Budget, approved in principle the 2015 to 2019 Five-Year Forecast, adopted the 2014 Operating Budget and received as information the financial plans for 2015 and 2016.
"Fixing our streets is our citizens’ top priority and this budget includes a long-term plan to repair our local streets, back lanes and sidewalks, and a new plan for regional streets,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “The budget also places increased emphasis on providing quality parks and recreation spaces throughout our City, while finding ways to keep our taxes among the lowest among major Canadian cities.”
The Adopted Operating Budget provides for $968.9 million in tax-supported expenditures in 2014, with $580.3 million for utilities and special operating agencies, for a combined operating budget of $1.5 billion of investments in services, programs and infrastructure improvements for Winnipeggers.
“The City of Winnipeg is keeping the general property tax increase low, at 2.95 per cent, to address inflationary pressures and service costs, with two points of the increase being dedicated entirely to streets,” said Councillor Russ Wyatt, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance. “This budget allows us to make strategic investments in the things that Winnipeggers have told us are their priorities, such as regional and local street repairs and community recreation facilities, while finding cost-savings to keep taxes low.”
Highlights of the approved budget include:
Local and regional streets, sidewalks, back lanes
- New Regional Street Renewal Reserve will provide an enhanced program of $14.3 million, for a total of $35.3 million in 2014 for regional street repair
- The Local Street Renewal Reserve will provide an enhanced program of $18.2 million, for a total of $48.9 million in 2014 for local streets, back lanes and sidewalks
- Total local and regional street renewal is $84.2 million in 2014, an increase of $53.3 million or 173 per cent compared to 2012, prior to thecreation of these street renewal reserves
Parks and recreation, community services
- Creating a new grant to the YMCA-YWCA on a new strategic partnership for the construction of three new facilities over the next 11 years, subject to 1/3 cost-sharing between the City, Province of Manitoba and YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. Planning is to commence in 2014 for the first facility in the South West part of the City of Winnipeg, with estimated costs and timing of this full initiative as follows:
- a. First facility in the South West part of the City of Winnipeg - $35 million or $11.667 million each between 2014 and 2016,
- b. Second facility in the North East part of the City of Winnipeg - $45 million or $15 million each between 2018 and 2020, and
- c. Third facility in the North West part of the City of Winnipeg - $60 million or $20 million each between 2022 and 2024.
Aboriginal youth training program
- A new Aboriginal youth training program, in the amount of up to $750,000, with 1/3 funding from the City of Winnipeg, 1/3 raised by the private sector, and 1/3 requested from the Province of Manitoba. The program will be geared to training Aboriginal youth in contractor trades involving roads and bridges, tying into the opportunity for employment due to Winnipeg’s increase in funding for core infrastructure.
Transit, active transportation and reforestation
- City’s contribution to Transit funding to increase by 3.8 per cent to $47.6 million for a total transit operating budget of $172 million
- $130 million over six years for Transit bus replacement
- Doubling the investment in Active Transportation Corridors to help build safe pedestrian and cycling facilities near elementary schools
- Increasing the City of Winnipeg reforestation budget from $383,000 to $1 million, with up to $500,000 allocated to remove and replace City-owned Schubert Cherry trees that have succumbed to Black Knot or other environmental factors
Public safety
- Increasing the police budget by 9.1 percent, or $21.2 million, excluding transfer to capital, for a total budget of $259.1 million
- Increasing the fire paramedic services budget by 2.9 per cent, or $4.8 million, excluding transfer to capital, to $167.6 million
- Public safety now accounts for more than 44 per cent of the tax-supported budget.
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 libraries, 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.