North Kildonan Councillor Jeff Browaty is frustrated that the City of Winnipeg’s tireless efforts to maintain a property tax freeze for the 12th straight year is being lost due to increases in school taxes on property.
“The City of Winnipeg has been holding the line on property taxes for 12 years,” Browaty said. “By contrast, almost all of the school divisions within the City of Winnipeg are proposing significant increases.”
The Province of Manitoba has offered school divisions a substantial Tax Incentive Grant to not raise taxes on property this year.
“While the Manitoba economy hasn’t experienced the challenges faced by eastern Canada or the United States, many working families have seen their retirement savings decline due to market conditions,” Browaty explained. “Belt-tightening is happening at the kitchen table and it’s happening at City Hall. School Boards should be no different.”
In the past 12 years Winnipeg property taxes have gone down an average of 6% while a property in Winnipeg School Division saw school taxes increase by approximately 38%.
“The province of Manitoba has offered an additional $53 million to school divisions to hold the line on property taxes,” Browaty said. “If the school divisions won’t hold the line on property taxes, perhaps the province should send it to the City that will.”
