Winnipeg Set to Announce Largest Property Tax Hike in 34 Years

The proposed 5.95% increase aims to address budget shortfalls and growing service demands as city revenues lag behind inflation and population growth.

• Winnipeg's 2025 preliminary budget is expected to include a 5.95% property tax hike, the largest since 1990, according to city hall sources.
• Mayor Scott Gillingham, who previously pledged to limit tax increases to 3.5%, has attributed the hike to inflation, population growth, and underfunding of core services like policing and road repairs.
• The city faces a projected $23.4 million deficit for 2024 and may need to use 2025 budget funds to cover the shortfall.
• The proposed increase would generate $44.4 million in additional revenue, aligning Winnipeg with other Canadian cities implementing significant tax hikes to manage financial pressures.
• Critics have called for alternative approaches, such as cutting non-essential programs or adopting a more progressive property tax system to ease the burden on lower-income homeowners.

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