Mayoral candidate Brian Bowman eyes cost savings in pensions, salaries
CBC News | Posted: September 30, 2014 6:02 PM | Last Updated: September 30, 2014
Winnipeg mayoral candidate Brian Bowman wants the city to find cost savings yet improve or maintain services at the same time.
He announced Tuesday that he would, if elected, reduce councillor ward allowances, eliminate campaign subsidies for candidates, and work with city administration and unions to restructure the pension and benefit program for new city hires.
There are many things we need to fix but we need to look inwards for savings instead of simply asking taxpayers for more or sinking the city deeper into debt - Brian Bowman
“Cities across North America are grappling with costs and looking for ways to become more efficient. Winnipeg is no exception," he said.
"We have to continue to find new and innovative solutions to improve and maintain services for citizens, while we continue to control city spending."
As part of the plan, Bowman said he would:
- Create an innovation committee
This committee would replace the rarely-used alternative services delivery committee and serve as a full-standing committee tasked to find best practices for service delivery and technologies from other jurisdictions, Bowman said.
- Reduce councillor ward budgets
Councillors would no longer be able to claim expenses for meetings with their staff, fellow councillors or city employees. It would also prevent councillors from expensing tickets to charitable events, golf tournaments, gala dinners, luncheons or similar events. Councillors would also not be permitted to submit expenses for home cable and internet or tickets for sporting events.
- Eliminate the city’s campaign subsidy
Rebates would no longer be issued to individuals contributing to municipal election campaigns.
- Dissolve the office of policy development and communications
- Introduce a new benefit and pension plan for new city employees
“These measures are not quick fixes. They are measures that have a long-term goal of institutional cost-savings for the city," Bowman said.
"They also encourage a new culture of innovation where we seek new solutions to old problems."
Bowman has previously pledged to find other savings by phasing in more fuel efficient vehicles and heavy equipment into the city fleet, switching to LED light bulbs in city facilities, and reducing salaries for the executive policy committee, speaker, deputy speaker, and mayor.
“As a city we have a duty to look at how we’re spending citizen’s money," he said.
"There are many things we need to fix but we need to look inwards for savings instead of simply asking taxpayers for more or sinking the city deeper into debt."