'Our reserves have been depleted': Winnipeg Beach raises taxes to cover previous council's mistakes
CTV
Residents in Winnipeg beach are upset about a big increase on their tax bill, but the community's mayor says the poor financial decisions of previous administrations has left them no choice.
Residents in Winnipeg beach are upset about a big increase on their tax bill, but the community's mayor says the poor financial decisions of previous administrations has left them no choice.
Cottage owners in Winnipeg Beach were surprised to find a four percent increase to the town's mill rate on their tax bill last month, going from 17 to 21 per cent.
"Everyone was shocked," said Darren May, whose family has been spending summers at Winnipeg Beach for more than 50 years. "It's never gone up that much."
May did expect some property tax increases in a reassessment year, but his overall property taxes amounted to nearly 18 per cent, which he says is too much. "A four per cent mill rate increase is quite substantial in a rural area where nothing has changed in the services that were provided," he said.
More than 300 people came out to a town forum Saturday to find out the reason for the increase. Winnipeg Beach Mayor Pam Jackson, along with the town's CEO and four town councillors explained that they had no money left in the town's reserve fund.
"Unfortunately, past administrations have not been covering all their operational costs through taxes," Jackson said. "They had been covering their operational costs through our savings and through our reserves."
Jackson was elected last fall, along with an entirely new council. She said they inherited a mess financially.
