The City of Winnipeg tabled its budget for 2019 on Friday, March 1st. Some of the highlights include a regular tax rise, but a decrease in roads spending by $29.6 million to $86.4 million.
Despite hints of a massive property tax increase, Mayor Brian Bowman said it wasn’t fair for city taxpayers to shoulder an $85 million funding shortfall, which he put squarely in the pockets of the province.
Mayor Brian Bowman and his inner circle agreed to spend $100,000 on a plan to help Lake Winnipeg. The goal is to keep phosphorus and other harmful nutrients out of the lake.
Bowman’s executive policy committee voted Tuesday to use funds from Winnipeg’s wastewater department to assist with the initiative.
Councilors on EPC say this could be a cost-effective way to improve the lake’s water quality while the city does $1.8 billion worth of upgrades to the north Winnipeg sewage plant.
Also, last month Justin Trudeau, along with Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, announced a federal government partnership with the city on transit infrastructure. Bowman said the funding agreement would see $2.8 million from the city added to $2.5 million from the federal government to make improvements to the Winnipeg Transit vehicle fleet.
City authorities recognize and understand the importance of constant transport infrastructure growth and modernization to be able to satisfy the needs of Winnipeg citizens and a workforce visiting our city every day. Mayor Brian Bowman says the city transport system needs a major overhaul.
Also, volunteers are welcome to help the project with donations and labor. Just a couple of hours of your time to help with a cleaning project on Lake Winnipeg will make a big difference and help others to make the place clean and trash-free.