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Changes to Public Works Dept. Could Save $5.5M

October 4, 2013 1:24 PM | News


Winnipeg Sidewalk Plow

A sidewalk is plowed on Main Street in downtown Winnipeg. (CHRISD.CA FILE)

The City of Winnipeg can save taxpayers $5.5 million annually if they change the way its public works department is run.

Those are the findings in a new external review conducted by KPMG LLP, which outlines 25 recommendations to streamline efficiency and better manage the department’s budget.

Some of the recommendations include implementing summer weekend shifts and overtime management, modernizing construction permits, as well as addressing the city’s fleet management costs and utilization, and residential street snow removal service levels.

The report also recommends the city spend between $1.1 to 1.7 million in operating and $1 million to address such areas as strategic and analytical support, information technology and a centralized traffic management centre.

The city’s executive policy committee will review the report’s findings on October 9.