Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman hints at higher property-tax hikes after next election
Bartley Kives | CBC News | Posted: December 19, 2017 9:30 PM | Last Updated: December 19, 2017
Provincial funding decisions are 'putting a squeeze on Winnipeg,' mayor says in year-end interview
Mayor Brian Bowman says Winnipeg may be forced to consider more sizable property-tax hikes as a result of provincial funding decisions.
In an end-of-2017 interview with CBC News, the mayor hinted 2018 may be the last year the City of Winnipeg limits its annual hike in property taxes to 2.33 per cent.
"The new fiscal reality we face in the province is putting a squeeze on Winnipeg and Winnipeg taxpayers, no doubt," Bowman said Tuesday morning in an interview in his office.
"That is going to become an increasing question, given some of the downloading we're facing here in the city."
During the 2014 mayoral race, Bowman pledged to limit any annual increase in the pool of taxes the city collects from existing residential and commercial properties to 2.33 per cent each year. He kept that promise in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and is poised to do the same in 2018, the final calendar year of his rookie term.
While Bowman has not committed to placing his name on the mayoral ballot when Winnipeggers go to the polls on on Oct. 24, 2018, he also says he does not foresee any event that will prevent him from seeking a second term.
"That's a great question I can't answer right now," he said. "I'm having fun. I'm working really hard and we're delivering results for Winnipeggers."
While the mayor claims to have a good relationship with Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, there has been a growing fiscal-policy rift between the city and province.
In May, Bowman criticized the Progressive Conservative government for freezing provincial funding for the city at 2016 levels.
- Omnibus budget bill gives province room to wriggle out of transit, infrastructure funding deals with Winnipeg
- 'Pain for Winnipeg': Mayor says provincial funding changes will lead to cuts
The mayor intensified that criticism in November to highlight what he described as the province's "unilateral decision" to end an agreement to cover half the cost of Winnipeg Transit operations that are not covered by transit-fare revenue.
Bowman used that decision to justify a 25 cent Winnipeg Transit hike in 2018 as well as the need to review transit operations next year with an eye toward potential service changes.
- Winnipeg mayor warns of fare hikes, cuts to 59 transit routes and 120 layoffs
- Winnipeg budget 2018: Bus fares and parking fees up, infrastructure spending down
- Transit cuts off the table thanks to $1.50/hour parking price hike
Bowman then proceeded to blame the province for saddling Winnipeg with a higher share of ambulance costs.
In a budget presentation in December, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority either has to provide the city with an additional $4.5 million to operate ambulances on its behalf next year or tell the city which paramedic services to cut.
- Mayor says Winnipeg out millions after province ends ambulance funding deal
- Fire-paramedic service to WRHA: give us more $$, or tell us what to cut
In a year-end interview of his own last week, Pallister dismissed the notion the province is shortchanging the city in any manner.
"I give the City of Winnipeg hundreds of millions of dollars in reassurance every year. The City of Winnipeg has the sweetest deal in Canada. They have virtually no strings," Pallister said on Dec. 14. "I expect them to find savings."
The statement about Winnipeg's funding is not a Pallister government invention. Gary Doer's NDP government said the same thing a decade ago.
Property-tax hikes in Winnipeg
2018: 2.33 per cent
2017: 2.33 per cent
2016: 2.33 per cent
2015: 2.33 per cent
2014: 2.95 per cent
2013: 3.87 per cent
2012: 3.5 per cent
2003-2011: No property-tax hikes