Councillors voted in favour Tuesday of the 2014 budget, which include a 2.95 per cent property tax hike in Winnipeg.
The city said that works out to about an extra $45 in tax per year on the average home. The budget with the tax hike passed by a nine to seven vote.
Coun. Scott Fielding and others spoke out against the increase.
"I'm very disappointed that the budget went through. I thought...there was a real opportunity to freeze taxes this year," said Fielding.
Mayor Sam Katz said the city had no choice but to raise property taxes again.
"We've tried to get our fair share of revenue from the other levels of government we've been unsuccessful," said Katz.
Most of the funds from the tax hike are slated to go towards fixing crumbling roads and bridges.
Several people spoke out against the tax hike Tuesday at city council's meeting.
"There is zero concept at all in your budget process to take into account what the individual taxpayer can afford," said Colin Craig from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Other speakers, such as the union representing workers - CUPE, said the tax hike doesn't go far enough to pay for services.
The city budget also includes funds to help reopen Sherbrook Pool, millions for new YMCA locations and funding for the new rapid transit line.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
