Municipalities are asking for more money, but will the province relent?

Roads, public transportation, and snow removal are just a few examples of costs for municipalities. As municipalities grapple with rising taxes, they're hoping the provincial government will provide some relief.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said Wednesday that he will make good on his campaign promise by raising property taxes this year by 3.5 percent.

“We are working to improve the quality of service, but we need more revenue to fund those improvements,” Gillingham said.

Despite the property tax increase, Gillingham still faced criticism for including new and increased service fees in the city's preliminary budget.

“Instead of 3.5 percent, it would be a sliding scale. Higher property rates mean higher property taxes, less will be paid,” said Kate Koehler, executive director of the Winnipeg Social Planning Council.

While Winnipeg is considering a 3.5 per cent property tax hike, residents of Brandon, Manitoba's second-largest city, will see property taxes increase by 9.4 per cent.

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RELATED: Taxes and fees to rise in Winnipeg's proposed budget

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Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said he was a big supporter of the small, albeit modest, increase in property taxes previously approved for 2023, but those minimal increases have now robbed the city of Brandon of much-needed funding. services.

“We've had discussions that if we don't do some things, we're going to start seeing cuts,” Fawcett said.

He hopes the city of Brandon and the province can work together to boost infrastructure funding and bring back the 50-50 cost-sharing agreement for transit.

“I fully believe in the discussions I've had with the provincial government, we will see increased funding for municipalities. Hopefully, not this one, but in the next budget, we'll find out what they are,” Fawcett said.

It's not just Brandon, other municipalities across Canada have had to deal with skyrocketing property taxes.

“Earnings have historically declined, but there's also room for improvement,” said University of Winnipeg professor Philip Cyrenn.

Cam Blythe, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, added, “We're seeing inflationary pressures drive up the cost of everything we do.”

The province says they are talking to municipalities in the province about their needs.

“We've engaged the community, including the cities of Winnipeg and Brandon, on the forecast and what's next. We've stopped freezing municipalities and want to be able to anticipate what they can expect going forward,” said Ian Bushey, Minister for Municipal and Northern Affairs.