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Winnipeg’s upcoming four-year budget appears poised to continue a string of 2.33% annual property tax hikes, while imposing strict spending limits and freezes on municipal departments.

And some fear that could trigger layoffs and/or service cuts.

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On Friday, the city revealed a plan to cap capital investments and tightly control operating costs. The switch to multi-year budgeting, starting for 2020-2023, has been championed by supporters as a way to increase financial certainty and transparency.

But Mayor Brian Bowman noted tight new spending targets won’t be easy to meet.

“In all departments, there are going to be some very difficult choices that council is going to have to make,” said Bowman.

The guidelines call upon the Winnipeg Police Service, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and Winnipeg Transit, as well as the city’s water and waste department, to cap annual spending increases at no more than 2% through 2023. During the same period, public works will be expected to limit its spending hikes to 1.5% per year and community services will see its annual increase capped at 0.5%.