As the election campaign hits the final stretch, mayoral candidate Kevin Klein released his costed platform, including his tax plan for Winnipeg homeowners. “We can’t keep raising taxes without results,” said Klein. Klein says if elected, he would freeze property taxes in the first year, then cap hikes at 2.99 per cent in years two to four. He would add a new $3.99 levy for every homeowner per month, or $48 per year, to pay for 100 new cops in the first two years. Klein says this is less than the cost of a Netflix subscription. “We have to be completely transparent with the residents of Winnipeg,” said Klein. “We know from the recent Winnipeg police survey that most Winnipeggers believe we need more police officers.” Klein also says he would freeze water, sewer rates and garbage fees for two years and have oversight over water and sewer rates done by the Public Utilities Board. Klein would also launch a financial audit of the $3 billion North End Sewage Treatment Plant, and he would divert 50 per cent of the funding from bike lanes towards his homelessness plan, arenas, and community centres. “We will move funds around to reallocate from projects that have less importance right now than homelessness and addiction.” Said Klein Candidate Scott Gillingham has said he will stick to the 3.5 per cent property tax hike already in the budget for next year. On Klein’s plan, Gillingham questioned if Klein could raise the new levy for cops without the province’s blessing, and he criticized the year one property tax freeze. “Which means he’s cutting roads budgets, which means more potholes, less roads getting fixed,” said Gillingham. Gillingham says he will release his full property tax plan on Monday.
