A recently conducted poll by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) shows Manitobans think investing in municipal infrastructure over and above existing levels should be a top priority for the provincial government over the next four years.
According to AMM President Doug Dobrowolski, the poll was a further step in the AMM’s Putting Communities First Campaign, which ran prior to last October’s provincial election. “Throughout the campaign we heard from municipal officials, community leaders, and business people that municipal infrastructure funding must be a priority. This poll reinforces that.”
When asked which of five areas should benefit if the provincial government were to dedicate additional revenues from the Provincial Sales Tax (P.S.T.) to a specific purpose, 44 per cent of respondents indicated they would dedicate these funds to community infrastructure improvement. This figure is well ahead of the numbers recorded in favour of health care (27 per cent) and education (11 per cent).
Respondents were also asked if they would support a one-cent Municipal Sales Tax if the funds were to be used specifically for infrastructure renewal projects. 64 per cent of Manitobans supported this idea, which is an increase of 10 per cent from 2008, when the same question was asked in a similar poll.
Overall, 9 in 10 respondents agreed with the statement “our communities need help”.
The poll results were not a surprise to AMM President, Doug Dobrowolski. “I truly believe citizens understand the fiscal binds their community leaders are facing. This survey just reinforces what we already believed – most Manitobans will support additional revenue for municipalities if the funds raised go directly to an area of great need. That area is infrastructure.”
