City council in Winnipeg has passed new capital and operating budgets, which include a property tax increase for residents of 3.87 per cent.
Under the city’s budget, councillors will get an additional $40,000 for their ward allowances. Councillors use their allowances to pay for support staff members who communicate with the public and media.
Coun. Justin Swandel (St. Norbert) and Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry) had introduced a motion to restore funding to museums and cut the ward allowance increase.
The motion was defeated on Tuesday, however.
Coun. Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood – Tuxedo) also opposed the ward allowance increases.
"I think the thing that is hitting people the most is the budget increases to ward allowances,” said Havixbeck.
Museums and some other non-profit organizations will see a five per cent reduction in city grants under the capital budget.
“It’s just appalling that we’re nickelling and diming them to death with this,” said Gerbasi.
The property tax increase in the budgets translates into about $57 more per year for the average home, assessed at $233,000.
The city previously said a percentage of the increase will be dedicated to fund road repairs.
"This is a balanced budget. It holds the line on overall spending. It includes for the first time a plan to wipe out our infrastructure deficit," said Coun. Russ Wyatt, chair of the finance committee.
