Future of Winnipeg’s street-renewal tax moves to working group

MHCA will continue discussions with City Council’s Public Works Committee, as it begins its work to decide how Winnipeg continues to raise revenues for local and regional street renewal.

“We are happy to see that, to 2027, the 2% road renewal tax will continue, with revenues to fix local and regional streets,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc said.

City Council on July 13 approved a plan that sees use of revenues from the 2% tax expanded to fund road safety engineering, pedestrian and cycling routes and tree replacement. In 2019, the use of the revenues was expanded to include bridge repairs.

The Public Works Committee will strike a working group to consider the future of the tax, and its revenue uses, beyond to 2037. The working group will also look at level of service – what percentage of the streets are expected to be raised to “good” condition in what timeframe.

“We are encouraged that Council recognizes the vital importance of good roads to citizens and especially to economic growth,” Lorenc said. “We’ll work with the Public Works Committee members toward ensuring that the program continues to support renewal.”