Wage & hiring freezes only part of cost saving measures

Tough times at the city as a $9.5 million shortfall in the 2017 budget has prompted the city to take immediate action to save money.

On Thursday, March 9, 2017 the City of Winnipeg announced that it would be implementing a hiring freeze in most departments, a wage freeze for senior and non-union staff and restrict discretionary spending.

The city says that the freezes put into place will not changes emergency service levels within the city.

A review of the 2017 budget is underway to see if and budget items can be postponed to make up the shortfall.

Also as part of finding cost savings most departments have been given a target to reduce expenses.

The city has not ruled out other initiatives to find cost saving targets by the end of the year.

The Standing Policy Committee on Finance will be reviewing the progress on the cost saving measures on a regular basis for the rest of the year.

“In February we stated the need to control spending to address the 2017 budget shortfall, and these measures will help us make up this shortfall,” said Councillor Scott Gillingham, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance. 

-News4 Staff-

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