Portage la Prairie City Council's taken another step forward with their 2016 financial plan. Finance Chair Brent Budz presented the 2016 tax levy by-law at last night's meeting, to set the municipal tax rate. Budz notes increases in the assessed value of city property meant they were able to lower their mill rate. However, he notes those with a $100,000 piece of property would still see an increase of about $16. Overall he's satisfied with the lowered mill rate, as the Council works to get their rate more in-line with what's seen in similar communities in Manitoba, noting they plan to provide an in-depth report at their financial plan public hearing.

"We're preparing a slide-show that really articulates the assessed value of properties, and the impact of the recent increases in assessment and what that means for taxation. It is a good news story from our perspective because you've heard me speak about the mill rate in our city, and I look to our peers and see where their mill rate is, and tonight I've report that the mill rate had dropped."

Last night's meeting also saw the presentation of the city's plans for the next ten years, when it comes to significant capital projects. Budz outlined a number of projects valued at more than $500,000 expected to take place over the next ten years in his report, with more than $23 million for general fund projects, and more than $124 million in the utility fund.

The utility projects are mainly bolstered by more than $93 million budgeted for the provincially mandated nutrient removal work. While Budz admits that would mean the city has to incur debt, the plan outlines project costs without taking funding from other levels of government into consideration.

"There is a large amount of dollars being spent in infrastructure as it relates to nutrient removal. We're going to have to fund some of that through the issuance of debt. I think though, when we do our planning, we have to assume that we're not necessarily going to get all the levels of government on board with this project. Simply said though, we could not move forward without that level of support."

Budz says Council's optimistic they'll receive both federal and provincial support for the work, citing the numerous conversations with both levels. However, he notes that may take a bit longer, now that both governments have seen change in the past six months.

"I do believe in the positive conversations that we've had to date that there will be some assistance. We're still working on the levels. The one thing that has not been beneficial, or potentially beneficial in the long-run, is a change in the federal and provincial governments. While we had an idea of what may or may not be available under previous governments, those conversations may have to restart. We're positive and feel we're trending in the right direction."

Other major projects include $4.1 million for pavement overlays, $2 million for the Island Park Bridge, $9 million for Saskatchewan Avenue West revitalization, and several million dollars for water and sewer renewal and upgrades.

The report indicated the city's maximum debt level is $32.8 million, and that administration was very concerned with the dependency on debt to fund the projects. However, it goes on to indicate nutrient removal cost analysis, and research into funding options is continuing, so the estimate for debt requirement is anticipated to be much less.

For more information:
Financial Plan and Tax Levy By-law