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Winnipeg Transit has nearly doubled the amount it spends on supervisor positions over the past six years while bus service continues to deteriorate and ridership numbers fall.

According to figures obtained by the Winnipeg Sun, Transit is spending an estimated $5.5 million on 58 full-time supervisor positions in 2018. That’s up from the $2.8 million Transit spent on 35 supervisor positions in 2012.

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It represents an average annual spending increase of 12% on supervisory positions from 2012 to 2016 and a 66% increase in the number of full-time positions during that period.

The spending increase comes at the same time Mayor Brian Bowman and city council have claimed Transit is hurting for cash due to a funding freeze from the province and that the city had no choice but to jack up bus fares by 25 cents this year.

Transit says the increase in supervisor positions was largely to improve safety on buses.