Winnipeg councillors make last-ditch effort to reduce garbage fee increase
Mayor rejects proposal to add a percentage point to property tax increase
Members of Winnipeg city council moved a motion on Thursday to lower proposed increases to the city's residential garbage collection fee.
Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) raised a motion, supported by Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), to add one percentage point to the 5.95 per cent property tax increase that council approved earlier this year.
A 6.95 per cent property tax increase would raise approximately $7 million more, which would go toward lowering the new waste management fee.
"What I'm hoping for is a greater discussion on how we're gonna afford this. Right now, how we're doing it is very regressive," Gilroy told reporters at city hall.
Winnipeg households face paying hundreds of dollars more for city services this year. The combined property tax increase, along with hikes to city sewer and garbage rates, is expected to cost the average Winnipeg household another $386 this year.
The changes wouldn't take effect until April 1, meaning households will pay even more for the services next year.
Gilroy says funding garbage services through property taxes is more fair because households with higher property values can afford to pay more.
However, she says, the extra money raised won't offset all of the proposed fee increase.
"This is really a drop in the bucket of what's really going to be needed, but what I'm hoping for is a larger debate over how we're going to help support residents," Gilroy said.
Mayor Scott Gillingham rejected Gilroy's proposal, saying the budget has already been passed.
He says he realizes some people are upset with the increases.
"There's been others that have given feedback that they appreciate that council's finally making hard decisions, decisions that have been put off for years," he said during a news conference.
The new sewer and garbage rates take effect April 1.
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