Friday, July 20, 2007

Thank goodness for the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation!

City Finds $20 Million Unused In Accounts
By Shannon Vanraes
Winnipeg Sun
Friday, July 20
Page 4

City Council may have the opportunity to crack open some piggy banks they didn't even know they had.

Reports indicate nearly $20 million in unused funds is sitting in city accounts, some of which was originally allocated for events that took place years ago.

More than $120,000 was apparently located in an account for the 1996 Winnipeg Winter Cities event, and recently transferred to another area.

"We have identified some potential money that is sittng in some accounts," Mayor Sam Katz said last night.

"We believe some of that money will definitely be needed, some of it may not be needed, which means we can use it for other projects."

Katz said the issue was brought forward by Coun. Justin Swandel, then investigated further.

He added Council will be working with the City's new Chief Financial Officer and administration to make sure the money is actually ssurplus before making any moves.

'Over-Taxation'

"Let's just be happy that the elected officials are aware of it now," he said.

One person who wasn't pleased with the discovery was Adrienne Batra, Manitoba Director of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation.

"Why has it taken so long to reveal this surplus of taxpayer money which has accumulated at city hall," she said." Surpluses are over-taxation."

Batra said the CTF will watch the situation as it develops, noting there are more questions to be answered.

"Why didn't administration come forward with the surplus funds when Council was saying they were scraping the bottom of the barrel" she asked.

Katz said Council will wait for a thorough report before commenting on what money might be available, adding any extra funding would be one-time only.

"This is ASAP. It's not like we're setting a deadline, but we have certainly made this a priority," he said.

shannon.vanraes@sunmedia.ca
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Ms Adrienne Batra
Provincial Director (Manitoba)
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
212-428 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0E2

Telephone: 1-800-772-9955
Cellular: 1-204-227-5561
Facsimile: 1-204-982-2154
E-mail: abatra@shawbiz.ca

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