Winnipeg budget passes with 5.95% property tax increase

By News Staff

Despite some tension in the council chambers, the City of Winnipeg passed its 2025 municipal budget — and it includes an increase in property taxes of 5.95 per cent. 

But the vote was far from unanimous, as councillors voted 11-5 in favour of the operating budget and 10-6 in favour of the capital budget.

As the meeting wrapped up Wednesday evening, Mayor Scott Gillingham touched on the split. 

“I appreciate that some councillors don’t like painting a budget vote as a dichotomy. Well in fact, it is,” he said. “Budget votes don’t really have a luxury of nuance in their support. It’s a yes or a no for the budget vote.” 

While many councillors spoke in favour of the budget, some expressed frustration before the final vote.

Coun. Sherri Rollins of the Fort-Rouge–East Fort Garry Ward called for the vote to be delayed due to what she said was a breach of public trust around budget transparency.

And St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes called it a “very sad day” due to the fact he hasn’t opposed a budget since 2011; he felt he was never properly consulted during the process. 

Winnipeg city council meeting in session at City Hall Jan. 29, 2025. (Cliff Simpson, CityNews)

In the end however, the budget did pass despite the split, with Mayor Gillingham explaining he felt support for the financial plan is support for what Winnipeggers are asking for. The mayor says the budget supports public safety with the addition of 36 more police officers, while investing heavily in road repair, Winnipeg Transit and the city’s future overall. 

“To vote yes for the budget is to vote for those priorities. To vote no is to reject investment in those priorities. Full stop. It’s yes or it’s no,” said Gillingham in the council chambers. “I’m asking everybody to vote yes for this budget and to vote for the priorities the good people of Winnipeg have told us are important to them.”

Highlights of budget 2025

  • 36 new police officers over two years
  • 15 new Community Safety Officers over two years on Winnipeg Transit
  • $1 million in new youth recreation programming in high-needs neighbourhoods to prevent crime and provide positive outlets for young people
  • Funding to clean-up dangerous debris in city parks
  • $169.3 million in road repairs

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