Cuts, cuts and more cuts

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This article was published 16/11/2019 (1620 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A lengthy list of public services and facilities — including a fire station, libraries and arenas — have been placed on the chopping block as the city plans for a tightened budget.

All week long, departments have been presenting city committees with proposals to tackle the budget constraints they were given by the mayor and executive policy committee as part of the new multi-year budget (2020-2023).

On Saturday, the protection, community services and parks committee heard from public works, community services and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

Those departments have been asked not to exceed annual increases of 1.5, 0.5 and two per cent, respectively, over the next four years.

To do so, WFPS chief John Lane proposed the service shut down Fire Station No. 9 (864 Marion St.) — what he called “the least worst” option of all the choices available to achieve an approximately $8-million reduction target.

The number of calls WFPS receives in that area is “small,” Lane said. (There were 224 calls for service in the area populated by 2,844 in 2016).

The public service’s report did, however, note the closure of the fire-paramedic station would “unquestionably” affect response times in St. Boniface and neighbouring areas and put lives at risk.

“There’s a domino effect. We are a bare-bones fire department and what happens is when you cut out one of the stations, then everybody else — all areas of the city will suffer,” Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, told reporters after the four-hour-long weekend meeting.

Forrest said he understands city councillors have tough decisions to make, “but there’s no higher priority than the health and safety of the citizens of Winnipeg.”

There’s a need for more stations, not fewer stations, especially since the area of Waverley West remains without one, he added.

The public service has proposed the station’s resources would merge with Fire Station No. 2 (55 Watt St.). Their plan also includes the termination of 18 full-time equivalent positions.

A member of the community services committee, Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) said Saturday cutting community services “is just as much of an emergency as fire and police (cuts).”

A proposal from community services suggested meeting its budget constraints by closing the Westwood Library, West Kildonan Library and Fort Garry Library. As well, closing all libraries on Sundays and shortening hours so they aren’t open after 8 p.m.

Public arenas, indoor and outdoor pools and drop-in recreation programming also took a hit in the department’s proposal, which recommended the city cut its wading pool portfolio nearly in half by 2023.

Community services also proposed slashing grants to organizations such as the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and Art City by 10 per cent.

Meanwhile, public works proposed its department scrap athletic-field improvements, park building upgrades and the boat dock and launch study. While its plan offered stable funding for reforestation in the immediate years of the budget, it projected reduced funding in 2024 and 2025.

“What we’re seeing today are what the options are if you don’t want to raise property taxes,” Eadie said, adding he feels Winnipeggers have no choice but to pay more property taxes if they don’t want to see devastating cuts.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairperson for the committee, said Saturday it was too early to comment on whether or not the city should revisit its 2.33 per cent property tax hike promise.

In the meantime, she said she wants to hear from the public about their priorities when it comes to reductions in services and tax increases.

“People do feel shaken, but I’m here today to say, ‘feel shaken, but not stirred.’ There’s a lot more to go,” Rollins said.

The multi-year budget will be in the making until March. The next step for the community services committee is delegations during a meeting on Nov. 27.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie