Winnipeg property taxes to rise in Wednesday's budget | Metro

Winnipeg homeowners can expect to shell out more money this year after the City of Winnipeg tables its operating and capital budgets this week.

For the first time, the City is presenting both budgets at once on Wednesday, and it is expected property owners will see an increase for the second year in a row.

Finance committee chair Russ Wyatt said ?Peggers should expect a tax hike, but wouldn?t say how much. Rumors put the hike, however, at 3.5 per cent, if not more.

This is the second time property taxes will have been raised after a 14-year property tax freeze.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said she hopes that rumors of across-the-board cuts to non-profit groups is just that ? a rumor.

?I?ve been here 14 years and (the City has) never cut funding to non-profit groups, we?ve just never done that,? said the Fort Rouge councilor. ?I worry about these smaller groups?the museums and non-profit groups that are facing a federal funding cut.?

Coun. Gerbasi said if cuts to non-profits are coming, she?s worried there won?t be enough time for affected groups to talk to the City about it.

?It?s a terrible budget process this year,? said Coun. Gerbasi, adding there?s less than 48 hours between the budgets being tabled and them being presented to the public works committee.

However, she said next year?s budget process should be more open thanks to planned pre-budget consultations.

Source: http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/497785/winnipeg-property-taxes-to-rise-in-wednesdays-budget/

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