Report on Winnipeg's finances shows $83 million shortfall, plus more for transit

A newly released report reveals the City of Winnipeg ended 2022 with a shortfall to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
The figures are from the city’s unaudited financial status report, which looks at the tax-supported operating budget.
It noted the city had an $83 million budget shortfall by the end of 2022, with an added $5 million deficiency from transit alone.
Officials say the shortfall can largely be blamed on the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and over-expenditures in snow and ice operations, which it says cost $52 million more than was budgeted for in 2022.
This includes $8.4 million spent in December alone.
Meantime, the city budgeted $41.3 million for anticipated COVID-19 financial impacts in 2022, but pinpointed an additional $12.4 million was needed for the year.
Some good news – the transit shortfall was ‘greatly reduced’ after the province allocated $19.4 million to the city from the federal government’s fund to support municipalities facing transit shortfalls. From that pot, $9 million will be used for the 2022 fiscal year, with the remainder helping to pay for operations this year.
In a statement, finance committee chair Jeff Browaty said the rainy day fund will be used to cover the shortfall. However, he notes it will leave the city’s reserves greatly depleted.
“Winnipeg residents can look forward to learning what the City’s plan is moving forward with the release of the 2023 Budget Update this week,” he said.
Winnipeg's full financial update can be read on the city’s website.
Meantime, the city will release its 2023 budget update on Feb. 8.
CTV News Winnipeg will have full coverage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Military under fire as thousands of troops face lost cost-of-living allowance
The Canadian Armed Forces is under fire for its plan to cut thousands of troops off a cost-of-living allowance without much notice.

Twitter: Parts of source code leaked online
Some parts of Twitter's source code -- the fundamental computer code on which the social network runs -- were leaked online, the social media company said in a legal filing on Sunday.
U.K. report: Black kids 6 times likelier to be strip-searched by police
Black children in England and Wales were six times more likely to be strip-searched by police, according to a report being released Monday that found children were failed by those sworn to protect them.
Burial plots in Metro Vancouver are now so expensive, they’re being compared to real estate
Burial plots have become such a hot commodity in Metro Vancouver, one spot in a Burnaby cemetery is being sold privately online for $54,000.
Court hearing for Prince Harry and Elton John's privacy case against U.K. publisher
The first hearing in a lawsuit brought by Prince Harry, singer Elton John and other high profile figures against the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper over alleged phone-tapping and other breaches of privacy, is due to begin on Monday.
All 7 Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion victims found
All seven bodies have been recovered from the site of a powerful explosion at a chocolate factory in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, officials said.
Singh 'not satisfied' with confidence-and-supply agreement
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he's 'not satisfied' with his party's confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberals — signed a year ago this week — because it's shown him he could do a better job running the country than the current government.
North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles as tensions rise
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters Monday, continuing its weapons displays as the United States moved an aircraft carrier strike group to neighbouring waters for military exercises with the South.
Is the David porn? Come see, Italians tell Florida parents
The Florence museum housing Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece the 'David' invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to visit after complaints about a lesson featuring the statue forced the principal to resign.