Another Winnipeg city councillor is calling the 2017 budget a shell game, but this time it’s related to Bus Rapid Transit.
Jeff Browaty said Mayor Brian Bowman and his inner circle should lower the annual property tax hike, in place until 2049, for the first phase of BRT. Browaty said since the project has come in $120 million under budget, the .33 per cent tax increase should be changed to reflect the savings.
"If this is the Mayor's backdoor way of trying to get a jump on future legs of Rapid Transit, without the approval of council, he should come clean and tell all taxpayers, rather than play this shell-game," Browaty said in news release.
The North Kildonan councillor has been a long-time opponent of Bus Rapid Transit and was recently removed from the mayor’s cabinet.
Bowman campaigned on a pledge to build all six corridors of BRT by 2031.
Since the budget was tabled last month, councillors Ross Eadie and Russ Wyatt have criticized the roads funding portion of the blueprint, arguing tax hikes meant for roads are instead being used to balance the books.
Mayor Brian Bowman said no decisions have been made on how the $120 million will be spent, because the other levels of government are funding partners.
He explained that depending on that outcome, there could be a change to the tax hike that council would have to approve.
