Property taxes increasing by 3.52 per cent on average for existing properties
Gimli council’s 2025 budget is aiming to set the municipality on a course of growth and development while supporting community wellbeing over the long term.
Council expects to see almost double the amount of revenue it had brought in last year, and will embark on ambitious capital spending to propel the municipality forward.
Council expects to bring in $30,630,786 million in revenue for this new fiscal year. In 2024, the RM’s total revenue was $17,345,732 and it spent a total of $16,903,948.
Councillor Thora Palson, chair of finance and administration, presented the budget during a public hearing on May 13.
Palson said she’s proud to see the RM take “bold steps” through a number of initiatives that will “mark the beginning of a new chapter of sustained growth and development for Gimli.”
Those initiatives include the RM investing in local health services through the support of a new private medical centre, practising environmental stewardship through a wetland development project, improving connectivity in the RM through the enhancement of its outdoor trail system, and investing in digital infrastructure to improve communications, she said.
Mayor Kevin Chudd issued a statement, saying the budget “reflects our unwavering commitment to enhancing our community’s infrastructure, public works, and recreational facilities. Our vision is to ensure Gimli remains a happy, comfortable, and safe place for everyone, while positioning ourselves as a premier destination in Manitoba.”
The 2025 budget reflects council’s priorities for programs and services in the new fiscal year and the overall strategic direction of the municipality. It also lays out projects it would like to get underway over the next five years. The budget, the financial plan presentation and the mayor’s statement are available on the RM’s website.
The financial plan presentation states council will continue to minimize taxation impacts and existing debt servicing so as not to place “undue financial burdens on its residents.”
The RM’s mill rate decreased from 14.788 to 12.527, a decrease of 2.261. However, 2025 provincial property assessments could result in some people paying more, fewer or about the same taxes.
The RM of Gimli’s taxes will increase by 3.52 per cent on average for existing properties.
“Total municipal taxes are 4.53% higher than last year. Of this increase, 1.01% is generated from new assessments—such as new homes, businesses, and other developments coming on stream in 2025. This means the actual increase in taxes collected from existing properties (those that also paid taxes in 2024) is 3.52%,” states the plan. “Reassessment may result in individual properties paying more, less, or about the same in taxes, depending on how their assessment changed relative to the average. On average, municipal taxes are increasing by 3.52% for existing properties.”
Rural property owners in the RM will pay about $78 more in tax for a $200,000 home.
“For a residential property assessed at $200,000, the 2024 municipal taxes in the rural area were $1,504. Considering an overall average of 21.5% increase in property assessment for 2025, the municipal taxes will be $1,582. This represents an annual Increase of $78.00 per $200,000.” states the plan. “The increase is due to the rise in the 2025 provincial property assessment.”
Urban property owners in the RM will pay about $80 more in tax for a $200,000 home.
“For a residential property assessed at $200,000, the 2024 municipal taxes in the urban area were $1,551. With a 21.5% overall average increase in property assessment for 2025, the municipal taxes will be $1,631. This results in an annual average increase of $80.00 per each $200,000,” states the plan. “The increase is due to the rise in 2025 the provincial property assessment.”
The province replaced the education property tax credit with the homeowners’ affordability tax credit, which offers “up to $1,500 in school tax relief” for principal residences. Seasonal properties will no longer receive education tax rebates, returning to pre-2021 norms.
Property owners outside Winnipeg can access their 2025 assessment on the province’s website by creating an account on the MyPropertyMB digital portal.
Council intends to spend almost $13 million ($12,812,620) on capital projects in 2025.
Of that $12.8 million, $582,500 will be borne by borrowing and $12,230,120 will be borne by the general fund.
Capital projects include a needs assessment for the public works facility ($50,000), a lighting retrofit at the Evergreen Library ($13,000), pick up tracks [sic] ($70,000), Grader MG33 ($574,031.46), wheeled loader ($310,000), lighting in the central business district and Second Avenue parking lot ($300,000), Fifth Avenue sidewalk between Lady of the Lake and Centre ($75,000), paved roads renewal ($700,000), electrical lighting for Viking Park ($40,000), road sweeper ($200,000), dormotory [sic] commercial appraisal ($15,000), banners and flags and other ceremonial items to develop cultural inclusion ($10,000) … continued…
… wastewater treatment plan concrete restoration works ($250,000), Fourth Avenue watermain (engineering) $40,000 and renewal ($2,330,000) that will be cost shared with Manitoba Water Services Board, fire department aerial platform truck ($1,672,000), floor cleaner ($15,000), trailer ($20,000), hall water system ($4,500), training ground improvements ($20,000), wildland gear ($10,000), airport resurfacing ($50,000), Gimli recreation and leisure youth hub ($250,000), Fitness centre designs ($25,000) and goal [fitness centre] $943,032.50, beach walkway and boardwalk lights ($300,000) and promenades ($148,992), site plan recreation plaza and strategic plan plaza goal ($2,000,000), municipal building stairs ($50,000), wetland site prep ($50,000), wetland strategic plan conceptual drawings ($45,000) and wetland strategic plan community visioning (45,000).
Over $7.2 million ($7,271,926) was transferred out of the RM’s reserve funds.
The opening balance of the RM’s general reserve fund had $4,455,055 and $3,688,538.73 was transferred out. The opening balance of the equipment reserve was $1,994,382 and $948,015.73 was transferred out. The opening balance of the amalgamated accumulated surplus reserve had zero. The road reserve fund’s opening balance was $2,798,441 and $750,000 was transferred out. The federal gas tax reserve opening balance was $1,830,524 and $320,000 was transferred out. The building reserve opening balance was 1,947,651 and $1,089,088 was transferred out. The fire reserve fund opening balance was $950,796 and $185,331 was transferred out. The Industrial Park Reserve opening balance shows 1,137,819 and no money was transferred out. The Multiplex/Recreation Reserve opening balance was $290,953 and all of it was transferred out.
The Express reached out to councillor Richard Petrowski for comment on the budget as he wasn’t able to attend the public hearing.
“I would like to thank all the staff that stepped up during this challenging time to put the budget together by the deadline,” said Petrowski, referring to the recent resignations of former CAO Trilbee Stirling-Kattler and a senior finance person, both of whom had been working on the 2025 budget.
Petrowski said he voted in favour of the budget – he voted by telephone – although he has some concerns with it.
“I did support the budget even though I do have concerns about certain aspects of it such as the amount coming out of reserve funds, the hiring of consultants and the high cost for legal services,” said Petrowski. “But it’s important that we as council members have to make concessions in order to come to a consensus so that we can move forward.”
The budget meeting included a presentation and 2025 recreation budget from Brenna Philp, the RM’s director of recreation and leisure, and a presentation from Ron Hahlweg, the RM’s director of operations.
The Express reached out to the RM’s interim CAO Ernie Epp, asking where the anticipated increase in total revenue for 2025 is coming from and whether the RM has a policy regarding reserve funds.
