The City of Winnipeg is taking the next step towards a new fee for new home builds.
A request for proposals is listed on the city’s bid website to study the impact of so-called growth fees.
It asks the winning bidder to research what charges other cities use and come back with recommendations on how to implement the new levy. This year's budget set aside $250,000 for the study.
Mayor Brian Bowman and others at City Hall say property taxes from new builds are not covering the costs of roads, bridges, and other related infrastructure.
“The numbers I've seen don't support the proposition that growth is paying for growth, you look at our infrastructure, you look at our infrastructural deficit, the numbers don't add up,” said Bowman.
The former NDP provincial government scuttled a plan by previous mayor Sam Katz's administration to bring in a development charge. Bowman said the city might be able to act on its own with a growth fee.
