Winnipeg, MB – Over $25 million is proposed within the preliminary 2020-2023 multi-year balanced budgets for new fire paramedic stations in Waverley West and Windsor Park.
“I’m happy to see the proposed plan to build two new fire paramedic stations in Winnipeg,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “Waverley West is a fast growing community and I’m pleased to see funds proposed from the Impact Fee reserve to support that growth.”
The recently released report on the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) Strategic Direction provides a 15 year master plan for investments into the WFPS. Two of the most urgent capital priorities identified in the report would be addressed through the construction of these two fire paramedic stations.
It is proposed that a new station in Waverley West, estimated at $12.1 million would be funded through a combination of the $7 million from the Impact Fee reserve and $5.1 million from external debt.
The second of the new stations would be built next to the current Station 15 in Windsor Park and would consolidate it with Station 9 on Marion Street. This proposed investment represents an estimated $13 million and would be financed primarily through external debt.
During the multi-year balanced budget process last year, the Public Service recommended approximately $7.4 million in operating reductions and $7.8 million in capital expenditure reductions to meet the four year expenditure target of 2%.
Approximately $2.2 million of operating reductions or 30% of the options proposed by the Public Service are proposed to be accepted in the preliminary 2020-2023 multi-year balanced budgets. This is primarily the result of a recommendation by the WFPS to reduce station maintenance over the next four years.
The preliminary 2020-2023 multi-year balanced budgets prioritize an investment plan for this critical service in a growing city.
The preliminary 2020-2023 multi-year balanced budgets propose to increase the operating budget for the WFPS by an average of 2.1% annually for the next four years from $199.5 million in 2019 (net of capital expenditures) to $216.8 million in 2023, which slightly exceeds the target increase of 2% approved by Executive Policy Committee.