Councillor asks Manitoba to wade in on sewage, water rate hike spending plans

The province should step in and call for a public hearing on the city's plans to siphon away water and waste rate hike revenues and put them back into the city's general revenue coffers, a Winnipeg councillor says.

"They're robbing Peter to pay Paul, only Peter really needs the money to build up his capital reserve in order to get our water treatment centres up to the same standard as the rest of the country,"Coun. JasonSchreyersaid in a statement Monday.

In a draft of thecity's 2016 budget released last week, the city revealedplans to channel money from a proposed 9.2 per cent water and sewer services rate hike into the city's general revenue pot.

The province would like to see that money usedto modernize Winnipegsewer and water treatment facilities.

• Winnipeg could see 9% water rate hike to help cover rising costs in other areas
• War of words breaks out between province, city, over where to spend funds from water rate hike
• Vote on water rate hike delayed after councillors ask for more study time
• Budget 2016: Winnipeggers to pay more property taxes, fees while businesses pay less

ManitobaConservation and Water Stewardship MinisterTomNevakshonoffaccused the city of trying to use money intended for watertreatment upgradestoinstead fix Winnipeg roads.Nevakshonoffsuggested the Public Utilities Board (PUB) review the decision.

"MinisterNevakshonoffis onto something,"Schreyersaid. While the Manitoba government can't completely shut the process down, it isn't powerless either, he added.

"The PUB might not be able to officially audit the city, as the city is exempt from the PUB under the province's charter at this time. However, they can call on hearings as they did in the past. As well, they should look at changing the charter to stop the city from pillaging the Water and Waste funds."

The hike would cost anaverage family of four an extra $23 each quarter,bringing in an extra$6.6 million in revenue from water bills.However, roughly$32 million in projected water and wastedividends will beputback into general revenue, the proposed budget states.

The city's water and waste committee voted to delay a vote on the proposed increase on March 4 after a day of deliberations. Members will have until April to study the detailed proposal.

The water hike isn't the only filein the city's budget to rouse the ire ofcouncillors. The city is also proposing to raise property taxes by2.33 per cent,with the lion's share of revenues earmarked for regional and local road renewal projects.

"It took me a few days, but now I've seen enough. Everywhere I look in this budget, thePonzischeme of moving funds around to make it look better than it is has become highly confusing, which I now realize is the point," saidSchreyer. "The province could really helpWinnipeggerson this one."

The issue was discussed at city hall Monday.