No relief coming for Winnipeggers on hefty garbage fee hike, mayor says
Collection fee set to more than double in 2025 to $190
Winnipeggers won't get any relief this year on the city's proposed garbage fee increase, despite efforts by city council members and staff to find ways to soften the blow.
The City of Winnipeg is changing the way it bills for garbage collection, eliminating its waste diversion fee, and rolling costs for garbage, recycling and yard waste collection into a new solid waste utility fee.
Going into effect April 1, it means homeowners can expect garbage bills in 2025 to more than double to $190 from $93 dollars.
Earlier this month, Mayor Scott Gillingham and water and waste chair Ross Eadie said they would look for ways to reduce the increase, possibly by stretching it out over a number of years.
But on Tuesday, the executive policy committee approved the increase city staff proposed.
"We looked at it, we worked with the department for several days. They looked at different ways that maybe things could be done. At the end of the day, what we've discovered is that any savings would be very negligible," Gillingham said during news conference.
If the city tried to extend the increases over a period of up to 10 years, the city would need to take on debt in the short term to pay for services. Interest charges would eat away any potential savings to the city, Gillingham said.
Because the increase doesn't take effect until the beginning of the second quarter of the year, Winnipeggers will pay an even bigger amount next year — $254.
Education taxes going up
Garbage collection isn't the only thing Winnipeggers will pay more for this year.
Council approved at 5.95 per cent property tax increase, worth about $121 for the average homeowner.
And the water and sewer bill for the typical homeowner will go up around $168.
Along with the increased garbage fee, the city portion on property tax bills will go up $386 on average in 2025.
The city also collects education property taxes on behalf of school divisions.
According to a report published by the city, the total amount of money school divisions will take in through property taxes will increase by double-digit percentages. The increases range from 10.4 per cent in St. James-Assiniboia, to 18.4 per cent in Louis Riel School Division.
There are a number of factors affecting the amount individual home owners will pay, including the assessed value of their home and major changes to a provincial tax credit that favour owners of less expensive properties.
During the committee meeting, councillors said they frequently get complaints from residents confused about increases in their tax bill that are outside the city's control.
"I've never seen numbers like this, I can say, in my 18 years on council … these are massive increases and we're going to be hearing from taxpayers, from residents," Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan ) said during the meeting.
WATCH | Provincial politicians lock horns over education tax hikes:
Some school division officials disputed the city's calculation of the total amount people will pay. A spokesperson for the Louis Riel School Division wrote in a statement that the numbers in the city's report are "not a proper reflection of the average increase to property owners."
Gillingham says city staff communicate clearly to residents the portions of their taxes determined by the municipality.
Eadie wants to see the city look at ways of adjusting the fees based on household income: "The department or utility is coming up with programs that won't really help everybody. It'll be desperate people in desperate times."
The fees still need final approval from council.
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