Send this page to someone via email

A new report says the implementation of a ‘commuter fee’ could raise additional revenue for transit, road repairs and other infrastructure projects in Winnipeg.

The peer-reviewed report, released Friday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba, said charging a fee to people who live in bedroom communities but work in the city could also target the problem of regional property tax differentials.

READ MORE: Snow plows set to hit major routes in Winnipeg

“Bedroom communities just outside of Winnipeg with lower property tax rates allow people to live close to the city for work but pay less in municipal property taxes than those who actually live within the city limits,” said the report’s author, researcher Riley Black.

“This both hurts the city’s tax base and exerts downward pressure on Winnipeg’s already low property tax rates.” Tweet This

Story continues below advertisement

Black said his research showed that a $350,000 home in the city (as of 2016) would pay just over $2,000 in property taxes, while the same home in rural municipalities like Rosser (just over $1,000) or Springfield (almost $1,500) would pay considerably less.

The study also suggests implementing a proposed commuter fee in a way that doesn’t penalize low-income consumers.

Join us for this launch tomo "High Cost of Free-Riding & How We Fix it: Examining Implementation of Commuter Fees in #Winnipeg" by Riley Black, 678 Main st, 10:30am. How@cityofwinnipeg

can bring in more revenue! Thx #bridgmancollaborative for hosting! pic.twitter.com/Ufh4zdeZ6Y — CCPA-MB (@CCPAMB) October 10, 2019

1:37 A tax to commute to Winnipeg? A tax to commute to Winnipeg?