Winnipeg's 2018 operating and capital budget has passed by a vote of 11-5.

The budget includes $1.08 billion in spending, $116-million of which is to go to road renewal. The budget also contains a reduction to the city's business tax rate, a 25-cent transit fare increase, and an extra $1.50 to on-street parking.

Before debate and voting began, three people spoke in favour of the budget, including Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard and Exchange District Biz’s executive director David Pensato. Nine people spoke in opposition to it, with most criticizing the transit fare hike. Pensato supported the budget, but spoke out against the additional 50-cent increase to on-street parking, arguing it puts downtown businesses at a significant disadvantage (the extra 50 cents was added to prevent transit service reduction, after an initially proposed $1 increase to on-street parking).

Mynarski councillor Ross Eadie moved an amendment to raise the business tax rate, and use the additional funds to keep transit and parking fees down. It failed by a vote of 4-12.

A motion by Transcona councillor Russ Wyatt sought to eliminate the proposed transit and parking fee increases by redirecting funds from a few areas, including money set aside for the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Inuit Art Centre; he called that a great project but, again, said provincial funding for it isn't confirmed. Wyatt also suggested keeping the business tax at 2017 levels, and his motion called for redirecting Portage and Main money to road renewal. The motion was defeated 5-11.

Councillors Jeff Browaty, Shawn Dobson, Eadie, Wyatt, and Jason Schreyer voted against the main budget.

Mayor Brian Bowman said this morning that Winnipeggers should expect a busy construction season, with roads remaining top priority.

But Wyatt argued the $116-million dollar road renewal figure is based on expected provincial funding that hasn't been confirmed yet.

Bowman told reporters (on a break before the vote) every municipal budget in Manitoba has to put in certain assumptions.

"Ultimately, as we've seen over the last year, there were certain assumptions that were built in: Building Manitoba Fund is one example, transit cost-sharing, even when you have legislation, we've seen that that legislation can change on a dime if the Legislature makes those changes. That's a risk for all municipalities and that's always been a risk," said Bowman.

Wyatt argued unconfirmed infrastructure funding from the province brings the city's roads budget down to $76-million dollars.