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. @TheWpgChamber absolutely supports City’s new four-year budget approach and focus on delivering core services efficiency and effectively. For far too long previous Councils have avoided these difficult discussions, but the easy road is rarely, if ever, the correct one. #wpgpoli
Unfortunately Wpg Police Service & its union, along w/ Transit, are dismissing opportunity to innovate, opting for posturing & scare tactics. Since 2015, police service has received a 14% INCREASE, $37.4 million, in operational funding. Police approx 30% of city budget. #wpgpoli
Taxpayers should start asking questions of police service management about how this significant increased investment has been allocated rather than accepting claims even more is needed. #wpgpoli
As to the police pension issue, while there may be differing thoughts on City’s ability to revise it unilaterally, there is strong agreement that it’s unsustainable and significantly out of line with other pensions and needs to change. #wpgpoli
Most employers provide a defined contribution pension, with employer providing matching contributions to that of the employee, capped at a certain percentage. @cityofwinnipeg contributes 18.48% of pensionable earnings; police members contribute 8% for defined benefit! #wpgpoli
Yet all other @cityofwinnipeg employee pension plans see city and its employees contribute equal percentage. #wpgpoli
As for Transit, a network wide rethink is needed and we applaud the city’s master transit plan approach focused on fast and reliable service on major streets. Some investment is likely needed to bring it to fruition, but if done right it will see efficiencies realized. #wpgpoli
All this to say the city’s budgetary focus & approach are what’s needed if we want to innovate & position city for long term success. Otherwise we merely push the difficult discussions down the road to a time when the discussions are harder and options less numerous. #wpgpoli
So far presentations from WPS and others have gone into protection mode, arguing everything they do is core. Rather than take a look at the 100 things they do & determine the 85 core services to be reinvested in with the savings, they sprinkle paper cuts over the 100. #wpgpoli
Example of this from today as reported on by @aldosantin ‘Public works director: budget cap will affect the # of street lights the city can afford; usually 4-5 per block, going forward will only keep 3 on, 2 off suggesting savings by turning off every 4th or 5th street’ #wpgpoli
If city departments cannot or won’t think beyond paper cuts, they cede the high ground to determine operational decision-making to Council and thus cannot complain about the decisions. #wpgpoli
