PROPOSED CITY BUDGET CUTS HURT OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS
February 26, 2020 at 3:09 AM
On March 6th, the City of Winnipeg will table its multi-year operating
and capital budgets.
In November 2019, the city introduced a four-year budget process that included a number of sweeping cuts to programs and services that will hurt our community in many ways. The proposed cuts also mean job losses for front-line workers.
The cuts being proposed include but are not limited to:
- The closure of numerous libraries, pools, arenas, and wading pools;
- Cuts to libraries, pools, and arenas across the city, including a reduction in hours of operation and reduced leisure guide programming;
- Cuts to water & wastewater maintenance, degreasing that could result in brown water, sewage overflows into the rivers, and risk of residential sewer backups;
- Cuts to 24-hour emergency crews that could result in more frozen pipes and delays in addressing water main breaks;
- Cuts to 311 services, resulting in longer wait times;
- Cuts to the Planning and Property Department that could result in longer approval times for business, residents, and developers;
- Cuts to Assiniboine Park Conservancy which could result in cuts to the Zoo;
- Closing of Waverley Fleet Shop;
- Contracting out of Translation Services;
- Cuts to every second or third streetlight.
After the budgets are tabled, public meetings will be held to hear delegations before the budget is finalized by City Council. A schedule of the upcoming committee meetings of council can be found on the City of Winnipeg website.
Representatives of the union will be appearing as delegations at the various committee meetings. We would encourage any Local 500 member who is off work to attend the meetings and listen to the budget debate.
Please continue to watch for more information as we move through the budget process.
