Winnipeg’s most recent financial status report is projecting a deficit in the operating budget of $9.2 million.

The main culprit for a large portion of the deficit is the $7.2 million the city has spent on the cleanup operation for the Thanks-giving weekend storm.

“The City of Winnipeg’s continued response to the major storm event in October will have a significant impact on the City’s year-end finances,” said Councillor Scott Gillingham, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance. “While the City may need to draw on the Financial Stabilization Reserve fund, there will be a continued focus by departments on making financial improvements over the course of the year in an effort to continue to reduce the projected year-end deficit.”

In early November the city reported that the storm cleanup would cost $7.9 million when it was completed in early 2020 but the latest figures suggest that those costs will be closer to $9 million when all is said and done.

© News4.ca 2020