Joe Masi, councillor and chair of finance for the City of Portage la Prairie, detailed the 2025 financial plan during the public hearing and its first reading this week. The budget includes a 2.86 per cent municipal tax hike for homeowners and 5.99 per cent for businesses, alongside investments in infrastructure, public safety, and green spaces.
Reassessment reshapes tax bills
Masi notes 2025 is a reassessment year, with residential property values rising 8.7 per cent on average and commercial properties up 11.9 per cent. However, he stresses assessments don’t translate to equivalent tax increases
A $1,500 homeowner affordability tax credit replaces last year’s school tax rebate, automatically reducing bills for a number of principal residences. Rentals and commercial properties are ineligible based on provincial policy.
“You don’t have to apply for it. You don’t get a cheque in the mail. It comes right off the property tax bill.”
For a home reassessed at $272,000 (up from $250,000), the credit and municipal and school taxes would lower annual property taxes by $194. Commercial properties face property tax increases, with a sample $560,000 assessment resulting in a $1,719 increase due mainly to not being eligible for the provincial education tax credit.
Related stories:
- Federal Budget 2025: Portage Councillor Joe Masi advocates local priorities
- Portage approves $2.6M in community grant funding
Where the money flows
The city anticipates $26.7 million in general revenue, with $14.2 million or 53 per cent coming from municipal taxes. Protective services—including fire, bylaw, and RCMP—are the largest expense at $7.8 million or 29 per cent of expenses.
Masi highlights a $98.5 million water treatment plant expansion, partially funded through a city debenture of $55.2 million. Federal grant applications and current grants received by the province could reduce borrowing needs.
“It’s going to bring more capacity, better reliability and quality of water, and it’s going to really allow us to get more economic opportunities for Portage la Prairie.”
Roadwork dominates capital projects, with an additional $700,000 annually earmarked for repairs over the next three years. Crescent Road West (4th to10th Street) will undergo reconstruction this summer as one of the road projects. Gladys Cook Way, the major road in the Agassiz development, is a $2 million project, while the fire-damaged Koko Platz Community Centre rebuild nears completion thanks to insurance, city grants and local fundraising.
Parks, debt, and community grants
Green space investments include $310,000 this year for McKay Avenue Playground, Simplot Park washrooms, and walkways. Masi adds the city’s total debt sits at $10.9 million, all related to Saskatchewan Avenue, well below its $45.6 million cap and fully planned to be taken care of with government grants and city debentures. All of the Stride Place debentures are set to be fully paid by the end of 2025.
“Our debt management is doing very well. [Stride Place] will be fully paid at the end of 2025, and the remaining debt related to Saskatchewan Avenue has funding sources identified to be taken care of.”
Nonprofits like Bear Clan and the Family Resource Centre and others will share $2.6 million in community grants. Residents can estimate tax impacts using an online calculator at the city’s website.
Final financial plan approval is expected at the next council meeting, with tax notices mailed in early June, with taxes due July 31, 2025.
“We feel it’s a good financial plan,” Masi says. “We have a very modest tax increase this year. Some homes will definitely pay less taxes this year than last year. We're paying off Stride Place. We’re investing in infrastructure like water, roads, and parks while keeping tax increases modest compared to other municipalities, as well as managing our debt in a responsible and prudent manner. We've put a lot of money into our safety. I think this financial plan sets us up for a bright future for Portage la Prairie and our region."
Please check out the full plan with easy-to-follow charts and the entire breakdown by clicking here.