Winnipeg Transit expects to exceed its operating budget, thanks to the maintenance backlog that also resulted in service cuts.

Transit currently expects to spend $730,000 above its 2015 operating budget, according to a report headed to the city’s finance committee meeting on Thursday.

Finance Chair Marty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) said the city is currently undergoing budget deliberations, so it’s too soon to discuss if transit’s 2016 budget could be increased to restore service. But Morantz noted he remains concerned about riders since transit began placing fewer buses on rush-hour routes in September.

“As we’ve seen the challenges that transit has been dealing with to maintain and enhance its services, I’m as concerned as every other Winnipegger,” said Morantz.

The backlog reached a high of 109 buses awaiting repairs, which dropped to 88, as of Tuesday. The latest tally includes 41 buses with engine emission-control problems that transit noted as a key cause of the service cuts.

Transit predicts an additional $1.8 million could be needed to address the engine issues and overall bus repairs are slated to come in $4.26 million higher than expected. That should be offset by savings on bus parts and driver vacancies, plus a provincial grant boost.

The city issued a statement on behalf of Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop noting work on a permanent maintenance solution is underway.

“The final cost implication of a solution won’t be fully known until a resolution is in place,” the email stated.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service expects to be over budget by $415,000, thanks to a surge in the fees ambulance users have failed to pay.

The WFPS estimated patients would collectively fail to pay about $1.9 million of ambulance fees in 2015. But they now expect to come up $3 million short, though the $1.1 million loss will be offset by other savings.

Morantz said those fees aren’t easy to recoup.

“One of the reasons around the higher-than-usual bad debt is around the ability of individuals without personal insurance benefits to pay for the cost of the services,” said Morantz.

A city ambulance ride costs $512 for a local patient.

The report claims the budget for this payment failure was set too low every year since 2006. An interview with a WFPS official was not granted Tuesday.

In an email, city spokeswoman Alissa Clark noted the nature of ambulance services affects the city’s ability to ensure payment.

TRANSIT BUDGET NUMBERS

Amount of extra engine issue expenses projected: $1.8 million

Increased cost of overall bus repairs expected this year: $4.26 million

Salary and benefit savings expected through transit vacancies: $793,000

Expected increase in provincial grant: $730,000

Remaining cost overrun predicted for 2015: $730,000

Number of buses still awaiting repairs Tuesday: 88

Number awaiting repairs due to emission-control engine problems: 41

FIRE PARAMEDIC SERVICE BUDGET NUMBERS: