The RM of Victoria may have ended 2015 in the black, but they're still facing some challenges when it comes to the 2016 budget. Reeve Harold Purkess says they ended 2015 with a small surplus of about $2,600. However, like many Manitoban municipalities assessment changes mean they need to be careful with their budget this year. Purkess explains while they face the common issue of assessment, unlike other municipalities it's the urban area being hit the hardest.

"The rural area has remained fairly stable, but we have some concerns in the urban areas. Some of the higher-end housing has taken a dramatic increase in the assessed value compared to some of the lower-end ones. We really need to take a close look and see because there's going to be a dramatic shift in the taxation burden for the higher end ones if we're not careful."

He says they'll be taking a close look at their expenditures over the next year, to ensure they're not creating a major tax burden. Purkess explains that will likely mean some projects are delayed.

"We have nothing major for this year. We're even pushing back some of the street work in town. We're just doing some of the stuff that was on the books last year that really needs to be done. We're trying to keep our expenditures down as much as we can for this year."

He says when it comes to local improvement zones, or similar area tax levies, they may change to taxation based on frontage, rather than assessment.