Municipalities to press for multi-year highways capital budgets
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities approved a motion to lobby the provincial government to adopt annual and multi-year highways capital budgets, effectively adopting a long-standing MHCA advocacy priority.
The resolution to press for multi-year highways budgets was approved at the AMM’s fall convention, which took place in Winnipeg this week.
The resolution noted that “a published annual and multi-year capital investment program, with projects expected in those years, is recognized as best practice in capital program management, enabling the public at large, municipalities and industry the ability to prepare for an understand provincial investment priorities in its transportation system which moves people to jobs and products to market.”
The AMM will ask that the provincial government introduce a Manitoba Infrastructure annual and five-year highways capital program to commence with budget year 2022-23.
MHCA President Chris Lorenc said multi-year capital budgets are required of municipalities by provincial legislation, and – as noted in the AMM resolution – are widely considered best practice for capital investment planning in the private and public sector.
“We are encouraged that the provincial government has committed to presenting annual and three-year budgets, and has indicated that movement to a five-year plan is not that far off,” Lorenc said.
Another resolution approved at the convention directed the association to lobby the province “to allow municipalities to charge and collect a Transportation of Aggregate Levy on PR roads under municipal maintenance contracts.”
Some municipalities, it was explained, have contracts with Manitoba Infrastructure to maintain the gravel PR roads, but the aggregate transportation levy can be charged by municipalities only on their municipal roads, not on the PR roads.
