Steinbach City Council will be spending part of the summer reviewing a growing number of grant requests from local organizations. Many groups are citing rising costs and are appealing to the city for additional funding to continue their programs and services.
However, Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra says Council must weigh each request carefully, especially as the city itself faces higher operating and infrastructure costs.
Council takes a "big picture" approach
“As a Council, we try to be very careful before making any commitments,” said Zwaagstra. “Even when we have a presentation that we like and are interested in, we have to make sure that we don’t react immediately.”
He notes that each request is evaluated alongside others, as Steinbach’s budget has limits.
“There are any number of things that would be good in Steinbach and that we should do, but we can’t do everything. If we say yes to everything and taxes start rising year after year, that actually creates major problems for homeowners and business owners,” he said.
Council will be using the summer months to consider the financial implications of each proposal while working on the 2026 budget.
Infrastructure remains top priority
Zwaagstra emphasized that infrastructure must remain Steinbach’s top priority.
“If we don’t have the basic infrastructure in place – for example, a water treatment plant – the city can’t function,” he said. “Our roads have to be in good condition. The drinking water has to be safe.”
He added that infrastructure repairs and upgrades are often among the most expensive items in the city’s budget, but they are non-negotiable.
“We can never lose sight of the fact that that is our primary role as a city, and we can’t ever do something that takes away from that.”
Zwaagstra said the city is committed to making thoughtful and sustainable decisions that protect core services and respect taxpayers.