City committee votes to hike billboard taxes

Companies that put up billboards in Winnipegare preparing for a fight after city councillors voted to jack up taxes on the signs by more than 300 per cent.

Joanne Koop with Pattison Outdoor Adverstising was fuming in the gallery while city councillors debated changes to the new sign bylaw on Friday.

She said she doesn't have a problem with most of the bylaw, whichwill lay out rules around distances the signs must be from buildings and their level of brightness.

Herproblemis with the fact the average billboard tax will go from $300to more than $1,100 a year.

For digital signs, it goes from about $1,000 a year to $32,000.

The property and development committee's decision was made despite 12 delegations from the billboard industry calling for more consultations on the new tax.

"I'm just bewildered;just super disappointed and frustrated that there was no consultation," said Koop.

"We had response from clients and landlords just saying, 'please, sit back.'"

Members of thedelegations told councillors they only found out about the proposalon Monday.

One said ifsuch increases were made on other taxes, people would storm city hall.

Wayne Robson, whoputs up signs, saidthe decisioncould mean his nine employees their jobs.

"It means, if there will be billboards coming down we'll have to drop the number of people we have. It's going to have a dramatic effect on our business," he said.

"It's scary for my people."

Coun. Jeff Browaty doesn't believe the tax increase is prohibitive.

Koop said they'll take their fight to the executive policy committeenext week and ultimately tocity council.